Loves Park Liquor Stores Enjoy Extended Holiday Hours

Loves Park, IL - Even though Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, businesses in Loves Park have the option to sell liquor late into the night. 3 a.m. is the latest a store can sell liquor if the owner chooses to thanks to a new policy put in place this year for some holidays that land on a Sunday. Customers at the House of Bottles liquor store stocked up for holiday parties. The owner says wine is the hottest seller. "I think this is better than the last few years," says Ahsanul Kabir, House of Bottles owner. Kabir says its been such a great year, he wont take advantage of the new law allowing Loves Park businesses to sell liquor until 3 a.m. on Christmas Eve. "We`re open to midnight because it`s a very busy day today," says Kabir. Along with an increase in liquor sales this time of the year, theres also an increase in alcohol-related injuries. Alcohol is involved in up to 70% of the car accidents. "I would hope that people would use common sense," says Dr. Glenn Aldinger, Chairman and CEO of Infinity Healthcare, the group that runs the emergency department at SwedishAmerican hospital. "If they can buy alcohol later, I would hope that they buy it for parties that they`re not intending to drive to and from with that alcohol in their system." Emergency room doctors dont want people to ignore the dangers of drinking and driving. Doctors highly recommend having a designated driver if youre going out and plan on drinking. "It is the time when people are drinking, there are more parties, but it`s the time when you have to have a designated driver," says Dr. Aldinger. "You can`t possibly imagine that you haven`t had enough alcohol to be a problem. Really, any alcohol and driving is a bad idea." New Years Eve also falls on a Sunday this year. Loves Park businesses will be able to sell liquor from 8 a.m. on Sunday until 3 a.m. on Monday.