Sunday liquor and wine sales have remained brisk since state legislation allowed some liquor stores to open on Sundays.

Molly McGowan, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), said the expectations were high for Sunday sales, which began Feb. 9.

"Sales are even stronger than we expected, and there has been no drop in business the other days of the week, so we think this is new business," McGowan said.

Sixty-three of Pennsylvania's wine and spirit stores have been open Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. as part of a two-year pilot program. The program allows a maximum of 10 percent of the state's wine and spirits stores to participate.

Wine and Spirits Shoppe, 1690 N. Atherton St., is the only Centre County store open on Sundays, said Bill Epstein, communications director for the PLCB.

Epstein added that this weekend, the State College area store ranked 24th out of the 63 stores selling alcohol on Sundays.

Randy Lose, assistant manager of the store, said Sunday business has remained steady, and certain weeks have been particularly busy.

"Sunday sales at [my] store have been successful. There was a big spike the first home football game. Sales were three times the normal amount," Lose said.

He said the influx of new customers on Sundays has begun to slow, with a pattern of regular customers forming.

Statewide Sunday sales have generated $12,286,511, with $219,385 of the sales coming from the Atherton Street store. During the 31 Sundays the store has been open, it has averaged $7,076.94 each Sunday.

"Sunday sales at the State College store have been significantly above average," McGowan said.

She added that the success of Sunday sales would most likely lead to a continuation of the two-year pilot program.

"If sales continue the way they have, we would eventually like to open more stores for Sunday business," she said.

Students said they have little opposition to Sunday sales of liquor and wine.

"I don't see any reason why the government should restrict business. If the stores want to do business, they should be allowed," Joe Knight (senior-management and international business) said.

Brigette Baker (junior-fine arts) echoed Knight's sentiments.

"I think [access to the stores] should be readily available. The original reason for closing the stores on Sundays were religious," Baker said.

Jody Bartko (senior-economics) said she wasn't opposed to the stores being open on Sunday, but added there were plenty of other opportunities to purchase liquor or wine.

"They're already open Monday through Saturday anyway. People will get their liquor one way or another," Bartko said.

The busiest Sundays statewide were May 25 and Aug. 31, the Sundays before Memorial Day and Labor Day.

"People had an extra opportunity to buy knowing the stores would be closed on the holiday. We did double the business of a typical Sunday," McGowan said.

The store with the most sales on Sunday is located in Allentown, she said.