Sunday Shopping Hours

[cos]

Why on earth should it be up to the churches to decide?

It's not? As far as I can tell they are just concerned that the retailers adhere to the Sunday trading legislation. It's only that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year (and so many people have left shopping until the last minute) that this has become a "story".

Article here:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...u=news.science

I'm sure stores have had an extra half-hour or so "browsing time" on Sundays for many years, why is this suddenly a big issue now

[BobbyC]

We have such a rule where I live:

1. "General Merchandise" stores cannot open before 1330. (Note supermarkets or pharmacies are exempt.)

2. Alcohol may not be sold between 0000h Sunday until 0600 Monday.

3. Sporting events may not be held on Sundays before 1330 with two exceptions -- (1) college events, (2) motor races with a distance of 400 km or greater scheduled distances. Professional events are exempt if the television contract mandates.

The rules are written out of respect for the churches. An incident in the 1970's showed the power of the churches in our state.

On 2 April 1978, the Cooper River Bridge Run cannon fired for the first time on a Sunday morning at 1000 hours. Over 1,000 runners entered the first point-to-point event from Patriots Point to White Plains Gardens at the Battery. Runners collapsed from the heat during the race, and because the course ran through Meeting Street in Charleston, with churches everywhere on the route, complaints came when the city's main street in the Peninsula was closed for the run, especially from the churches of having runners on the path.

For the 1979 event, and continuing since then, the Bridge Run has been held on a Saturday morning, where over 45,000 runners and walkers participated in the 2006 event.

Our state's major athletics event, the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon, is also run on a Saturday because of concerns by churches since at least six churches are on the Marathon route.

The blue laws in the state are there for a good reason. They don't want idiots buying booze at the casino, doing an illegal street race on the main road to church.

[Drew]

It's not? As far as I can tell they are just concerned that the retailers adhere to the Sunday trading legislation. It's only that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year (and so many people have left shopping until the last minute) that this has become a "story".



I'm sure stores have had an extra half-hour or so "browsing time" on Sundays for many years, why is this suddenly a big issue now

Ok, so perhaps I could have phrased that better. The church has always been in the way of Sunday trading and always had some power, but Sunday trading managed to get through. But I believe there is one island in North Scotland where the church has much more power and the holy day is still observed.

[Dave B]

I've got the perfect solution.

Tesco have branched out into clothes, electricals, pharmacuticals, restaurants, finance, mobile phones, internet services, insurance.....

Why not a Tesco instore Church?

You could have Value prayerbooks, Finest communion wine, and a 17 year old trainee vicar.

It all makes sense.

[Hazell B]

It all makes sense.

I'd love to live on planet Brockman if just for the fact that something on his planet makes sense :