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DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado may have legalized cannabis and decriminalized some psychedelic drugs, but when it comes to buying alcohol at a store on Christmas Day? No can do.
For the Colorado newcomers reading this, yes: The state has long prohibited stores (but not bars) from selling booze on Christmas. But that will change this year after Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law that lifts the rule.
While the pandemic pushed Colorado to change course on things like to-go alcohol, and voters also decided to allow wine sales in grocery stores, the Christmas Day rule remained until this legislative session.
The update comes from Colorado's Liquor Advisory Group. Polis asked the group in 2022 to review the state's liquor and beer codes, noting that there had not been a broad review "in recent history."
Bipartisan group lifts Colorado's Christmas Day liquor sales ban
The group's recommendations were presented to the legislature this year and signed into law on Saturday.
The recommendations address several other aspects of the state's liquor laws. A couple of examples: Liquor licenses will be lengthened from one to two years for some applicants, and arts licensees will be able to have "limited advertising" that they will have alcohol for sale during a production.
Senate Bill 24-231 had bipartisan sponsorship. Prime sponsors include Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez and state Rep. Marc Snyder, both Democrats, along with Assistant Minority Leader Bob Gardner and state Rep. Lisa Frizell, both Republicans.
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