By Matt Wilson
Staff Writer
ATLANTA -- Local governments in Georgia soon could have the choice to allow voters to decide if stores can sell beer and wine on Sundays, if lawmakers approve a bill introduced in the state Senate.
"I believe strongly that we, as senators, have our first responsibility to the citizens of our respective districts," Sen. Seth Harp, R-Midland, who introduced the bill, told the Senate. "And the opportunity to allow them to make that decision, I think, is one of the most fundamental rights that exists."
Georgia is one of several states that has "blue laws" restricting the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday, including at grocery stores where beer and wine sales are allowed on other days.
Several senators from both parties last week signed on in support of the bill, Senate Bill 26, including Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton.
"While I wouldn't want to promote Sunday sales, I do think it's fair to let the people decide," Sen. Thomas said.
He said he had heard several complaints from retailers in the Rossville area and other border communities who were losing business to states like Tennessee, where Sunday sale regulations for beer are set locally. Sunday wine sales are not allowed in Tennessee.
Sen. Thomas, chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, was the chief proponent of a controversial smoking ban passed in 2005.
But even if local governments get the choice, not all will jump to change their policies, leaders said.
"I don't really think that's something we'd be interested in," said Ray Elrod, mayor of Dalton, Ga., where voters in November approved liquor by the drink sales on Sundays.
Mr. Elrod said part of the reason voters approved the liquor by the drink referendum was that they were promised that package stores would stay closed. The law approved last year allows only restaurants where food accounted for 50 percent or more of sales to sell alcoholic beverages.
"The people are concerned about people drinking and driving," he said. "I think (putting Sunday sales up to a vote) goes against what we told the people would happen."
Jim Tudor, president of the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, said the bill is "off to a good start," but stressed that no community that does not want Sunday sales has to open the door to it.
"In North Georgia, in Rome, for instance, there would never be any Sunday sales unless voters allowed it," he said.
E-mail Matt Wilson at mwilson@timesfreepress.com
