For nearly 70 years, it has been illegal to buy liquor or wine on a Sunday from a Pennsylvania state store.

However, this might change if a bill that allows limited liquor store sales on Sundays is signed into law.

A State College liquor store might be used in the two-year trial run for the legislation, said Donna Pinkham, spokeswoman for the Liquor Control Board.

If the bill is signed the 1690 N. Atherton St. liquor store will be a "prime candidate" for Sunday sales, Pinkham said.

"We are specifically looking at stores that are high volume stores," Pinkham said. "The super stores are going to be the candidates."

Although the Liquor Control Board took a neutral stance regarding the bill, the state might stand to profit if it is signed into law, Pinkham said.

"There are numbers out there [estimates on Sunday sales]," Pinkham said. "But it's all speculation. I can't really speculated at this time whether it will be a success or not."

The bill will allow the stores to be open about 50 more days a year.

Officer Tony Lopinsky of the State College Police Department does not expect there to be a rise in drinking in State College if the bill passes.

"The way I look at it, people already have six days a week to purchase alcohol," Lopinsky said. "I don't think a seventh is really going to matter."

The stores would only be open from noon until 5 p.m. on Sundays, Pinkham said. In addition, if a Sunday falls on Easter or Christmas, the store will be closed.

Gov. Mark Schweiker is expected to sign the bill that he publicly supports. The bill passed in the House of Representatives last week.

The bill narrowly passed and several attempts at derailing the legislation were headed by Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr., D-Westmoreland. The bill passed 124-75.

Casorio was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Liquor stores could begin operating on Sundays 60 days after the bill is signed into law.

If the bill is signed into law, about 63 state stores could open on Sundays for the next two years. Under the bill, only 10 percent of the commonwealth's stores would be open on Sundays.

Supporters of the bill say Sunday sales will increase revenue for the state because some Pennsylvanians cross state borders to get liquor on Sundays. They also say that the bill will increase convenience for the state's residence, many of whom use Sundays to run errands.

Opponents of the bill argue that Sunday is a traditional day of rest.

The liquor control board will decide which stores will be opened and what the operating hours will be.

After two years, the Liquor Control Board will have the power to decide whether to expand the plan and open more stores. The board could also decide to close all stores on Sundays after the two-year mark.

Rep. Roy Reinard, R-Bucks County, sponsored the bill. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.