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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBooze bills uncorked today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New bills allowing local voters to approve selling beer, wine and hard liquor on Sundays were filed this afternoon.
The measure is aimed at placating the liquor lobby, which has complained that the original Sunday sales bill left them out by only allowing for sales of beer and wine at stores.
The new bill would allow voters to let liquor stores sell hard liquor on Sundays as well. Grocery and convenience stories aren’t legally allowed to sell hard liquor. The bills also say Sunday sales would not be allowed until noon, at the earliest.
Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland), ran into a roadblock when he filed a bill last month with bipartisan support allowing local voters to approve the sale of beer and wine at stores. Senate Regulated Utilities Chairman David Shafer (R-Duluth), objected to the bill in part because it didn’t include liquor. Gov. Sonny Perdue also came out against the bill.
Whether Harp’s latest bills pass the Legislature is up in the air. Shafer has avoided holding committee meetings and has filed a resolution calling for a study of all liquor laws. Such study committees generally spell doom for bills. However, national spirits industry officials support the new effort, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce is backing Harp’s attempts to legalize Sunday sales as well.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Categories: Liquor Laws
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By A-
February 9, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
I really wished this wasn’t such a huge issue but most importantly, I wished the Imperial Government would stop trying to dictate when people can and can’t buy alcohol. Let it pass and let freedom reign.
By jj williams
February 9, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
i agree with the revision, if you are going to sell alcohol on sundays, there shouldn’t be any restriction to the type of alcohol sold. it should be all or none, i would prefer all.
By K2K
February 9, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
Is Blanket’s Open?
By Chuck
February 9, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
It makes no sense to be able to buy alcohol at a restaurant on Sunday, where one has to drive to and from, and not be able to buy for consumption at home on the same day. It seems that if you want to reduce the number of DUI’s, don’t put people in a situation where that’s the only choice they have if they want to purchase alcohol for consumption on Sunday. All this talk from religious zealots that claim that alcohol shouldn’t be consumed on Sunday infringes on the rights of other Americans who don’t hold that viewpoint. Since the legal age to purchase alcohol is 21, those doing the purchasing are assumed to be adults. If someone chooses to buy or refrain from buying alcohol on any given day of the week, it should be a personal decision. Not one enforced on them by the government.
By Itsjustus
February 9, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
If this does not pass, why don’t we go the other direction & ban tobacco sales on sunday? Will that make everyone healthier?
By Kevin Jones
February 9, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
It’s time for our government to get out of the Gay preachers pockets…not if there is anything wrong with it..but why does it matter to the church…When they talk about Sabbath do they mean Black Sabbath?
Let it pass….Georgia is probably the most backward state of the south still.
By Ashanta
February 9, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
It is a shame we are even having this discussion. I love my state. It will always be home even if it’s not where I reside, however it is disturbing to know we are one of only three states, I think, that has a Sunday ban on liquer sales. It sometimes makes me sad to be a Georgia native. Why must we be so opressed by someone else’s religous beliefs. It’s not like we gonna go to church with a paper sack, except maybe the Tabernacle.
By HBFrancis
February 9, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
The All Mighty Gov’na doesn’t want the people of Georgia to vote on any law he doesn’t want. Let them vote on gay marriage bans and state flags…but they’re not smart enough to vote on alcohol sales on Sunday. Thanks Sonny, you’re truly a man of the people.
By Chris
February 9, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Lets go across the board on Sunday Alcohol then, lets ban Lotto Sales, Tobacoo Sales, Resturant Liquor Sales, Sports Events Beer/Liquor Sales, Airline Beer/Liquor Sales in GA. If you can get alcohol in these establishments on Sunday, we should be able to go to any store and buy it as well…
By Carl
February 9, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
Glad to see this issue has been revised. Sonny, I beg to ask you..what could be more democratic than having voters decide on this issue?
By L
February 9, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
Isn’t the government supposed to represent the people. So let us vote and see what the people decide.
By HAROLD
February 9, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
CLEARLY TO BE TOTALLY FAIR THEN, SINCE THE LIQUOR STORE INDUSTRY IS INTERESTED IN TOTAL FAIRNESS, GROCERY STORES MUST BE ALLOWED TO SELL THE HARD LIQUOR TOO.
By HAROLD
February 9, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
SONNY WANTS TO MAKE TRAFFIC SAFER, SO HE CLAIMS
STEP 1: TOTALLY ELIMINATE ALL THE EXTRA DRIVING SUNDAY GROCERY SHOPPERS HAVE TO DO TO GET BEER/WINE ANOTHER DAY
THERE YOU GO. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES DRIVEN LESS WEEKLY. THAT OUGHT TO SAVE SOME TRAFFIC, LIVES AND GDOT BUDGET MONEY YA THINK SONNY?
By HAROLD
February 9, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
IF BEER AND WINE CANT BE SOLD UNTIL NOON ON SUNDAY, GROCERY STORES ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL NOON TO OPEN ON SUNDAYS. THAT MEANS MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE LESS OTHER STUFF TO DO THAN GO TO CHURCH. CANT GROCERY SHOP IF THE GROCERY AINT OPEN UNTIL NOON SO WHY NOT GO TO CHURCH. PRAISE BE TO JESUS.
By Phyllis
February 9, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
Yes!!!, If North Carolina and South Carolina (The most backwards states in the union can have alcohol sales on Sunday, then Georgia got to be in that number)..So Let the people vote YES!!!!!!
By Steve
February 9, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
If you can by in a bar, why not in a grocery or liquor store? Sonnny Perdue does not have to buy. Let the people vote and have their say
By HAROLD
February 9, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
IF WE CANT VOTE ON SUNDAY ALCOHOL SALES LET’S HAVE A RE-VOTE ON SUNNI PERDUE THE RIGHT WING RELIGIOUS FANATIC WHO WANTS TO FORCE EVERYONE TO FOLLOW HIS RELIGIOUS ECCENTRICITIES LIKE THE HEAD MULLAH OF SAUDI ARABIA DOES
By Mr. Rational
February 9, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
The PEOPLE have spoken. Vote this down and I’ll just continue to go to a bar on Sunday, get totally plastered, and get in my car and drive home. INSTEAD OF going to the store on Sunday (after Church of course), purchasing my spirits and consuming them in the coziness of my own home. The Georgia Legislature is either ssa backwards or tied to religious zealots if they don’t allow the people who VOTED THEM INTO OFFICE have a say on this!
By DEARL
February 9, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Voters should absolutely be given the opportunity to vote on the issue of alcohol sales on Sunday! If we are not given the opportunity, we should all vote against any incumbent during the next elections, until we get some folks in the legislature that understand their responsibilities to the people. From my correspondence with some of them, it is clear that they don’t understand.
By DBH 1
February 9, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
You don’t really think this will pass, do you?
By Dude
February 9, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
I’m glad this issue is finally getting on the laundry list. Reading past news on this pointed to the fact that lawmakers were so afraid of the hard right conservatives, no one wanted to touch this.
By ABS
February 9, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t this kind of law apply to many more social issues like gay marriage, abortion, etc? Isn’t it kind of hypocritical to think the government shouldn’t be able to govern whether or not we can’t buy alcohol on Sundays, but they should have the right to tell us who we can marry and whether or not to have an abortion?
Me, personally, I agree that we should be able to vote on Sunday sales, because I know the community where I live would vote for it! Yes! I think that the government as a whole, should stay out of everyone’s private lives! It’s not their responsibility to tell us what is right and what is wrong!
I’m so tired of these religious zealots ruining our state and county! I’m an adult, I know right from wrong, I can think for myself, and they need to stop focusing on these non-issues and start focusing on what is important like fixing the Peach Care problem!
By Darrel
February 9, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
I’m one of those “conservative types” and I believe we should be allowed to buy any alcohol beverage on Sunday or Monday or Tuesday, etc. Probably more conservatives would like to have the chance to vote on this issue than you think and I do believe that if we get a chance to vote on this it will pass and the conservative vote will be greatly in favor of it. However, as for Sonny Purdue, or is it Poor Doo, he’ll never again get this conservative’s vote for anything no matter what he might want to run for in the future. Hell, he’s not trustworthy for starters!!!!
By Jennifer
February 9, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Can we please step into the 20th century now?
By ALAN YOUNGBLOOD
February 9, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
I am tired of having to stock up on Saturday’s for Sunday, I usually end up drinking the Sunday stock up on Saturday, then I am stranded. Besides imagine the great profit store would make during Falcons games and especially NASCAR! I am a christian that knows how to enjoy life. BUT I AM NOT A BAPTIST…SO PASS THE BILL!