How other cities and counties compare
Catoosa County-Beer, wine Sunday sales: Yes-Liquor by the drink on Sundays: Yes-Discussed “brunch bill”: NoWhitfield County-Beer, wine Sunday sales: Yes-Liquor by the drink on Sundays: Yes. 12:30 p.m.-Considering “brunch bill”: Not right nowRinggold-Beer, wine Sunday sales: Yes-Liquor by the drink on Sundays: Yes. 12:30 p.m.-Considering “brunch bill”: Not right nowFort Oglethorpe-Beer, wine Sunday sales: Yes-Liquor by the drink on Sundays: Yes. 12:30 p.m.-Considering “brunch bill”: Not right nowRossville-Beer, wine Sunday sales: Yes-Liquor by the drink on Sundays: No-Considering “brunch bill”: Not right nowLaFayette-Beer, wine Sunday sales: No-Liquor by the drink on Sundays: No-Considering “brunch bill”: WAITINGDalton-Beer, wine Sunday sales: Yes-Liquor by the drink on Sundays: Yes. 12:30 p.m.-Considering “brunch bill”: Not right nowSources: Clifton “Skip” Patty, Chad Young, Robert Smalley, Mark Gibson, Dan Wright, Jennifer Payne-Simpkins, Teddy Harris, David Hamilton, Jason Parker
You can’t chuck a chorizo burrito without hitting a weekend brunch spot in Chattanooga these days. In rural North Georgia? Not so much.
But some restaurant owners around here want to change the culture, at least a little. For starters, they have to change the laws. Restaurants can’t sell alcohol in Walker County on Sundays, meaning prospective brunches can’t include bloody marys or mimosas.
“It’s 2018,” said Jason Phibbs, owner of Phibbs Bar & Grill in Rock Spring. “Not being able to buy a beer with a burger while you’re catching a football game is kind of unheard of.”
Residents will have a chance to change the law later this year, though. On Thursday night, Walker County Commissioner Shannon Whitfield put a binding referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot, asking voters whether they want to allow restaurants to serve alcohol beginning at 11 a.m. on Sundays. If passed, the law takes effect Dec. 1.