GRAND BLANC -- Some religious leaders say drunk driving will escalate in Michigan if the governor passes a bill that would allow alcohol sales on Sunday mornings and Christmas Day.
The bill is designed to make the state some much needed money.
Supporters of the bill say there's a market for early morning liquor sales on Sundays at golf courses, restaurants, and for liquor stores on game days.
But critics argue, the law will only create social problems.
Buying liquor on Sunday morning before the big game may soon be an option for Mid-Michigan residents.
"I kind of like it actually," said Flushing resident Mike Bourque.
Governor Granholm is reviewing a bill that would allow liquor sales on Sunday mornings and on Christmas Day to help boost tax revenue for the state.
The manager of Whigville Market says the law would boost his business too.
"When people go into stores they are not just buying alcohol, they are buying other products, so it would help the economy as well," said the Manager of Whigville Market, Jason Sherwood.
The manager says if he could sell alcohol on Sundays that would increase profits by 10%, and that's money he could use to hire another employee.
But religious leaders argue there are other ways the state can make money, and starting alcohol sales at 7 a.m. on Sunday instead of noon would encourage more people to drink.
“We're concerned about what alcohol is doing to families, we're concerned about what's happening on the highways with people being killed by drunk drivers,” said Minister John Henson of Grand Blanc Church of Christ.
“It probably wouldn't be good because more people would start drinking and driving around one, two in the afternoon," said Bourque.
For others, extended liquor sale hours won't make a difference in how much booze they buy, because they've budgeted only so much a week to buy it.
Under the new measure, alcohol sellers would have to spend $160 for a special license. That money would go to the state budget.
If Granholm passes the bill the new alcohol hours will start December first.
