Sixpack on Sunday?

Last week the state Senate approved legislation to allow counties and municipalities to vote on whether packaged alcohol can be sold in liquor and grocery stores on Sundays. It’s not the first time for such a proposal but it is the first time it has gone this far. The legislation, Senate Bill 10 will now go before the house and stands a chance of being approved.

There are only 3 states that still ban packaged alcohol sales on Sunday and Georgia is one of them. Connecticut and Indiana still ban Sunday sales as well. Considering the conservative religious values in Georgia, making this change has been met with reluctant state officials. Should lawmakers pass the “Sunday sales bill” the law will still be put on a ballot at the local level for voter’s consideration.

Georgia counties vary in how and if alcohol can be sold. Some allow alcohol at restaurants only with a meal purchase, others allow beer and wine only, some counties only allow package sales, and still others remain dry. Sunday sales are the only alcohol regulation that isn’t controlled on the local level. Even if the Sunday-sales bill wins final approval it doesn’t mean communities will consider the change.

The Senate bill was passed by a vote of 32-22 on Wednesday with 17 of 36 Republicans and 5 of 20 Democrats in the Senate voting against the bill. The issue was debated for more than 2 hours on the Georgia Senate floor before a proposal that would allow local governments to put the issue to votes was approved. Now that the Senate has approved the Sunday alcohol sales proposal, it goes to the House. While stores that currently open on Sundays may favor the bill it is doubtful package stores would favor it since it would create an expense for them to open a seventh day or lose sales to competitors. In the end, if the Bill passes it will still be up to the local communities to vote on whether they will allow Sunday sales.