Alcohol bill passes Georgia Senate

The Georgia Senate has passed a bill that would allow communities to vote on whether their local retailers would be legally permitted to sell alcohol on Sunday.

“By a 32-22 vote, Senate Bill 10 passed, which allows local communities to vote on whether to allow retail stores to sell alcohol on Sunday,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

“The bill is thought to have a good chance in the House and Gov. Nathan Deal has indicated he would sign it into law.”

The bill was thought to have died before it reappeared last week.

“I don’t really know where the lobbying must have come from,” Statesboro City Councilman Will Britt said.

“I don’t believe the cities or counties really got involved with the lobbying.”

Britt believes that most of the lobbying had probably been done by the grocers, the convenience stores and the alcohol lobby.

If the bill passes, local communities will have the ability to vote on it whenever they want. Whether they wait for a general election or hold a special election is entirely up to the individual communities.

“You want to time it near an election because you don’t want to have it as a special election; that’s just too expensive,” Britt said.

“I would not support us having a special election just for this. A special election I think would cost the city of Statesboro close to $10,000.”

Whether it passes or not in Statesboro once the bill makes it to the local level, Britt will be happy voters will at least be given a chance to voice their opinions. 

“Whether it passes or it doesn’t pass in Statesboro, I like the opportunity,” Britt said. “If it’s legal to drink then it’s kind of silly that it’s not legal to purchase. I never have understood that.”