Stores To Open On Sunday For First Cruise Ship
The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce announced that they have successfully lobbied Government for a further exemption to the Public Holidays Act, to allow merchants to open from 9am to 9pm on Sunday, March 17th.
Chamber Executive Director Joanne MacPhee explained: “The Azamara Quest, the first cruise ship of the 2013 season will arrive in Hamilton on Sunday morning, March 17th, and will only be at dock until 5pm, so it was vital that stores of all sizes be permitted to open early to meet the demand. Government has been fully supportive of our application for the exemption and now it is up to the merchants themselves to make the most of this opportunity.”
According to the 2013 Cruise Ship schedule the Azamara Quest, carrying 688 passengers, is due to come alongside the Number 5/6 dock at 10am. Stores over 1,000 square feet that would otherwise not be able to open until 1pm will be permitted to open as early as 9am.
Even though the ship is scheduled to sail at 5pm, in order to be consistent consistent with similar applications, the Chamber requested a 9am to 9am exemption. As always, the exemption is superseded by the Liquor Licensing Act, which means that merchants will not be permitted to sell even Bermuda-made liquor products to visiting passengers on Sunday.
In conclusion the Chamber noted; “While we are extremely pleased that the exemption waiver has been written into the Act, allowing for random applications such as this one, we will continue to lobby Government for a complete review of the outdated 1947 Act and bring it more into line with today’s economy. We contend that any impediments to free trade should be removed allowing consumers to decide how and when they will shop.”
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- Azamara Quest: First Cruise Ship Visit Of 2013 | Bernews.com | March 17, 2013
The long term goal must, surely, be to remove the need for exemptions altogether.
I agree.
I also agree, we are governed by a 1947 law? Really, time to upgrade the law, we should be free to shop when we want, and leave the churches out of the decision making process
Amen
I cannot understand why, in this day and age, you cannot purchase liquor on a Sunday. I know the first set of people to complain will be the churches. They were the first to complain when they wanted to open supermarkets on a sunday. Now they shop like the rest of us. Selling of liquor is well controlled during the week. I cannot see it being any different for a Sunday
I don’t care what people “do” in churches, but they have no right to dictate to the rest of us.
Who cares about church ? Such a small percentage goes, politicians only go because they feel they should, and the rest of the word laughs at our Sunday opening.
By the way, god doesn’t exist and when you die, that’s it, you go to sleep. Forever.
I guess if God doesn’t exist evolution is the answer & you are the missing link to it all.
Man, you talk some crap. I may be the missing link, but you are a true clown.
I agree Sandgrown. I’m sure the “Christians” have their “wine” for Sunday Lunch! I’m Just Saying!!!
All I want to do on a Sunday afternoon is sit off and watch a little football and drink a couple of beers at home. If I get too busy on Saturday, I can’t even go to the store and grab a six pack. Our laws need to be updated. Alcohol should also be available after 9pm. Why can’t I knock off late from work and pick up a beer or two on the way home?
If stores can’t sell liquor on Sundays, then why do we allow bars to sell liquor on Sundays? You can’t buy booze and take it home, but you can go to a restuarant or bar and drink to your liver’s content! Doesn’t that promote drunk driving?
Funny how the churches don’t want liquor to be sold on Sundays yet it’s OK for them to serve “holy” wine on Sunday.
While we’re at it, how about extending the cut-off time to purchase liquor from 9pm to, say, 11pm?
I, also, cannot fathom why stores are not permitted to open on Sundays as any other day.
We know that cruise passengers spend less then air travellers. So what do we do, leave a shopping day off the week and further reduce their spending opportunities. Similarly for air travellers; a day of purchases is being cut away from their stay as well. Also, residents must cram all their purchases into one day. It’s not a pleasant shopping experience to have the whole island descending onto Hamilton for their one shopping day available in the week (another sway towards internet shopping). If Bermuda wants tourism dollars and if retailers want resident dollars then normal operating hours on Sundays make sense. At the very least allow 1PM to 6PM on Sundays without need of application.
The ban on the selling alcoholic beverages on a Sunday is outdated; not to mention inconsistent. You can still purchase them at restaurants and bars, but not a grocers and liquor stores. Where is the logic in that? Bermuda is not “The Church”. Why should individuals be forced to follow the doctrine of a particular religion? Like anything else in life, if you don’t like it then don’t do it. Purchasing alcoholic beverages on a Sunday does not infringe on anyone’s rights. However, it could be argued that allowing restaurants to sell alcohol but not grocers and liquor stores does indeed infringe on someone’s rights.
Scrap the limitations on Sunday sales and alcohol. Let those who want to open be open. Stop discriminating on grocers and liquor stores concerning alcohol sales. Give residents and tourist alike more opportunity to patronise establishments. We all know retail can use all the help it can get.
Ride
Let’s get a petition going … It’s one of the most archaic “laws on the books ” , no sales of alcohol on Sunday should have went the way of the ‘wandering abroad law’ a long time ago .
you can buy take away boozeon sunday if member of best club in bermuda
So why not make it legal in all stores? And the sale of alcohol past 9pm! In the UK it’s legal to buy alcohol any day of the week at any time!
There’s over 5000 health related deaths every year in the UK that are caused by alcohol. Thats not including the DUI deaths in the UK. Alcohol laws here should be stricter not more lenient. Just because laws are different in the UK does not necessarily mean they’re better.
You are a f#@ing idiot.
OOOOKAAAAY BOOZER!!! Don’t break your dialysis machine over my comment. You must of had a hard time breaking away from the bottle of black to type this post. Lucky for you it was only five words long or you’d start spitting. Too bad out of the five you couldn’t come up with more of an eloquent adjective that wouldn’t have to be edited by the bernews editor. You should be the poster person for the next AA awareness ad campaign.
You know what annoys me, is that every post you do is angry and contrary, I pity your wife, then again, its the single life eh? I suggest you relax a little, a nice bottle of wine and some conversations with friends….less anger and comments. Its good to socialise, venting hate on here isn’t good for you, you know. I stand by what I said too, you are an idiot. Cheers!
Shops should be able to open 24/7 if they want…tired of these out of date laws on this Island…
WAKE UP BERMUDA or DIE!
I work Saturdays, so I am really screwed. All I can do Sundays is go out to eat, or buy groceries or plants after 1pm. God’s fan club really gets to tell us what to do, don’t they?
To those with their Alcohol comments it should be made illegal period. Alcohol is poison & has poisoned our society & many others. It’s the highest cause of all drug related deaths here & in many other places in the world. If cannabis which has a toxicity level thats far less than alcohol is illegal so should alcohol be. Also energy drinks with taurine should be illegal. If we are supposed to have laws that protect society from drugs then lets have them & not bias the laws due to the majorities drug preference.
Good point- no need for the bias. We should legalize all drugs!
It’s better to decriminalize than legalize then laws can be made to control when, where & how the substances are used. When I mention control I mean real control not the type of controls we have now for alcohol. It’s easier for a teen to get hold of alcohol in Bermuda then them to get hold of a nudie magazine. Not that I think its right for a teen to be looking at a magazine like that but at least its more natural than downing a dark & stormy.
I support full legalization of marijuana for several reasons, and I don’t even smoke it. But I am completely against any making illegal of alcohol. That is so backwards… let’s not forget the crime that prohibition caused in the US. Additionally, alcohol is only toxic when abused. Several studies have shown that the moderate use of alcohol is beneficial for your health, with red wine being the best. And I do not support underage drinking. Young people are still developing and need no additional substances that will ultimately affect their growth.
Puff x young minds equals future crack and meth.
& too much masturbation causes hairy palms. I’ve got some nair coupons I can send you to help your problem. Don’t need to use them myself so I figured I’d give to the needy.
I just wanted to ruffle some hairy palmers follicles like Chuck D about prohibiting alcohol & rase a point. Just messing with the boozer posters. I do think some better laws need to be made in Bermuda for alcohol but not full prohibition. We have a big drinking culture here & it starts way too young & causes other issues.