Gold Dome Live

By aps

February 16, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this

Let me get this straight. On any given Sunday, Perdue would rather have you drive to an establishment, have a few drinks, get back in your car and drive rather than go to the store, buy something to drink and go home to enjoy it.

By J.D.

February 16, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

Yes, by all means, approve it!!! We do it already with bars and lounges on Sundays, why not allow it to be purchased from the stores too?

By Mark

February 16, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this

I find it amusing that EVERYONE (60% of the people)in the State wants Sunday beer & wine sales, except for one religious bible thumper. It just so happens he is the Govenor and he can block the request of the majority of the inhabitants that elected him!!

This law passed YEARS ago in Alabama…isn’t it time we caught up to the Great State of Alabama??

By J.D.

February 16, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

Besides Sonny, approving it will generate some additional revenue for the State. Something I think I read that we were needing???

By Charles

February 16, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this

I have lived in several cities where liquor is sold on Sunday ( and it’s sold in grocery and drug stores too ) and I have NEVER been aware of it causing problems. And I don’t drink !

By In all fairness...

February 16, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this

It’s actually liquor store owners who are the largest obsticle.

By PMC

February 16, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this

Good, any move foward out of blue law ideocracy is a good one.

Liberty… always a good decision.

By Gimme a break!

February 16, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this

This is unbelievable! It makes no sense whatsoever. The state is hurting for cash and the governor wont approve a Sunday liquor bill. Every border state has this BUT GEORGIA!

Underground gets a casino but no booze on Sunday?!?!?! Whats the difference??? Perdue is going to hear about this one! We the People will be heard!

By S

February 16, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

Even the Mormon State of Utah allows beer sales 7 days a week!

By Barbara

February 16, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

I always thought it was ridiculous that the state of Georgia doesn’t allow liquor sales on Sunday, but allows sex billboards on the interstate for all kiddies on their way to Disneyworld to see!

By War Eagle

February 16, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this

Of course they want you to drive to bars/lounges have a few drinks and then drive home. How else could “the great state of Georgia” get additional money out of tax payers pockets? DUI’s. Anybody ever wonder why DUI laws exist if restaurants can serve alcohol?

By edgewood adam

February 16, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this

Correct me if i am wrong here but is there not a seperation of church and state explicitly laid out in the Constitution. If someone is openly voting against the sale of alcohol in oreder to keep up “the sanctity of the sabbath” they are in direct violation of the Constitution of the United States of America. Therefore Sonny Perdue and all the other Christian right wing morons are more Anti-American than all the lefties like myself. SLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By areyoukidding

February 16, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this

Are you kidding? They know as a whole we won’t do anything about it, it might as well be 90%. They do what they want and never do what they say they’ll do, (see flag issue)!!!

By Josh M

February 16, 2009 4:00 PM | Link to this

Remember, Sonny once said a Sunday alcohol ban teaches Georgians “time management.” Because that’s obviously the government’s role in our life, right?

I’m a lifelong conservative, but will never vote for a Republican who stands in the way of Sunday alcohol sales. Not because I need a drink on Sunday, but because NONE of this state’s laws should be based on one religion’s beliefs.

By get over it

February 16, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this

Let’s see - we can buy on Friday- which is the Muslim holy day - Saturday which is the Jewish holy day and even Wednesday when some sects of Christianity go to church - but can’t on Sunday because……can we please jump into the 21st century?? How ridiculous do we look to our “beloved conventioneers” that come here and can’t get a bottle of wine to take to a dinner party on a Sunday….I may just be a Catholic, but Jesus did change water into wine did he not?????

By dre

February 16, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this

This state is so backward I move from Chicago 10 years ago and when I move to atlanta they said you couldnt buy liqour on sunday in Atlanta I said that stupid in Chicago you can buy liquor 24 hours a day 7 days a week…..Wake up Georgia this is a younger generation…….georgia need more money for the state let people enjoy life get rid of these stupid laws especially buckhead need to bring back party life for more economy money.

By Dana

February 16, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this

Adam dear, not all Christians are against drinking on Sunday, only the hypocritical ones.

By Mac

February 16, 2009 4:12 PM | Link to this

We are the only state in the South where this is an issue. The rest of the region progressively bypassed us years ago, including Alabama and Mississippi. This is not a badge of honor as the TaliBaptist and Pentecost-al-qaeda preachers and their lap dogs (most politicians in Georgia) would have us believe.

By Leon

February 16, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this

It’s because Sonny-Bob is a Baptist. Like my grandaddy told me “the only difference between a Baptist and a Methodist is that a Methodist will wave to you in the liquor store”

By larry

February 16, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this

Why waste the extra money with local voting on this issue? Just pass the law and be done with it.

By Ben

February 16, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this

Actually the separation of Church and State is NOT laid out in the Constitution. All is says is that “Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion.” Interpret that as you will, but I see nothing that tells me Sonny Perdue can’t let his religious beliefs inform his actions as governor. After all, if a man has been a devout Christian his whole life, it’s impossible to separate that from what his decisions will be. What Sonny CAN’T do is pass a law requiring you to go to church services Sundays mornings. The Constitution is available for free online, and it doesn’t take all that long to go through, please read it before using it as a reference. Pay special attention to the “Commerce Clause” which Congress has abused to make all sorts of laws that should be in the hands of local or state governments.

That said, not having liquor sales on Sunday is ridiculous, we should be able to buy it whenever we want. The last time this came up a lot, there was an interview with Sonny Purdue where he said his anti-liquor stance was not due to religious views, but instead because he thinks it helps Georgia residents improve their time management skills. It was on the front page of the AJC. What a bunch of BS, I would think even the slimiest politician would be embarrassed to say such a thing.

By evangelical

February 16, 2009 4:37 PM | Link to this

I am a Pentecostal and I am still for Sunday sales. Quit the separation of church and state issue. Congress shall make no law that establishes a particular religious belief. Everyone makes decisions based on their own set of beliefs, so in that case we should throw out all laws? If we as Christians spent a little more time focusing on what we “can” do with Christ, instead of what other people “cant’, the world would be a better place. Amen

By Jaitley

February 16, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this

Hmmm…. I haven’t seen a single comment supporting the law. So why does Sonny boy want this? Kickbacks? Corruption? Maybe the AJC journalists should tkae a deeper dive? A polititian could care less for religion, if he can garner enough votes.

By A Christian

February 16, 2009 4:43 PM | Link to this

The issue here isn’t alcohol. The real issue is not reverencing the Sabbath. One person wrote those Christian right-wing morons. That is so sad. What happened to really keeping the Sabbath holy. I think it would really be nice if I/we went back to what the Sabbath is suppose to be. I don’t drink and I don’t have a problem with people who do. Again, the problem here is not the alcohol it’s wanting to do what you want to do when you want to do it and leave God out of the equation. Why don’t we make all the holy days non-alcohol days, then maybe we would focus on what is really important. I’m a Christian and I’m proud to say I am. What would your children or family think that on whatever day you choose for the Sabbath (depending on what your religion is) that you took that day, did not drink alcohol and spent time with your children/family. Reading to them, playing with them, taking them to church (whatever church your religion might have) instead of having to have alcohol. Again, maybe those who sign bills into law need to really focus on making all the holy days (use the calendar to locate them) non-alcohol days. You know we have smoke free restaurants. Maybe we really need non-alcohol holy days….

By mitch

February 16, 2009 4:46 PM | Link to this

The State brings in more sales tax money when a beer is sold in a restaurant instead of a store.

By evangelical

February 16, 2009 4:49 PM | Link to this

I will drink to that!

By evangelical

February 16, 2009 4:50 PM | Link to this

Sharing a glass of wine with my family on the sabbath somehow makes it unholy? What was Jesus sharing with his disciples?

By Bryant

February 16, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this

Good Lord, will the people who govern this state please wake the hell up and come forward to the 21st century????? Seriously, do people like Perdue and the Christian right really think that there’s gonna be an exponential increase in sin just because you can purchase alcohol on Sunday? Give me a break!!! They might have an argument if there was a TOTAL ban on alcohol on Sunday, but as it stands, I can go to a restaurant, bar, club, or any other establishment like that and get hammered, but I can’t do so in the privacy of my own home. That is just completely a* backwards. I will be so glad when Perdue’s time in office is done. Let’s get someone with a more progressive mind in the governor’s mansion.

By Josh C

February 16, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

On so many levels, this is exactly why I buy my Makers Mark by the handle.

By edgewood adam

February 16, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this

The whole thing is just embarassing. I would never let my personal views get in the way of someone else’s personal freedoms. I do not even drink on Sundays (unless there is a big Falcon game) but i am disgusted by the government telling me that i can not purchase it because of the sabbath. If you do not want it, do not buy it. How difficult is that?

By johnatl

February 16, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this

Boss Hogg, aka Sonny-Bubba will just not stand for this!

You WILL NOT drink on Sunday (remember time management, everyone?)

You WILL NOT have transit options (beacuse my buddies in the road building industry pay for my vacation land in Florida, and they don’t want rail).

You WILL NOT be able to gamble in Jawja, even if it is a classy horsetrack or a glitzy casino because the LAWD says it’s bad. Never mind that we already have the lottery.

You WILL NOT be allowed to vote on things that directly impact your life BECAUSE I SAY SO, etc.

How much longer do we have to suffer this boob?

By Steve

February 16, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this

To “A Christian”:

I don’t have any holy days. Couldn’t you choose to not buy alcohol on your holy days and not inconvenience me?

By larry

February 16, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this

To drink or not to drink is a choice for the individual not the state. One persons “Holy Day” may be anothers “Non-Holy Day”.

By Libertarian

February 16, 2009 5:43 PM | Link to this

Half my family is German where sitting down with the family to enjoy a nice brew is part of the culture. The other half is Italian, which enjoys a nice glass of wine. If I want to drink on Sunday, its not the government’s concern. And if I want to buy it on Sunday, then we should be allowed. The government needs to do its job and quit limiting our liberties. We elected them to face the issues, provide for a common defense and to tax, protect and serve the people. We also need to drop the legal age back to 18. Its amazing that American soldiers can die in combat at 18 but can’t have a beer. If the city of Atlanta could tax the package stores for Sunday sales, they could avoid having to furlough police officers whose time they can’t otherwise pay. Tax the alcohol, pay the cops and get off the high horse. This is America people, not Afghanistan.

By SCOTT

February 17, 2009 8:08 AM | Link to this

I think congress now have the votes to override old Sonny veto ,plus the citizens of the state of Georgia 89% overwhelmingly support this bill .

By Sam

February 17, 2009 8:25 AM | Link to this

@Christian - F You. You’re no more than a totalitarian Nazi on top of being an idiot boob. Go read an effin fairy tale to yourself again you jack-off.

By PAM

February 17, 2009 8:27 AM | Link to this

In this economy, we need to be able to buy alcohol 24/7. It helps numb the pain!

By john

February 17, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this

Gee Sonny, why don’t you open some more strip clubs in honor of your great religion? Then we can all go drink there, have a toast to you, and drive home drunk.

By Patrick G

February 17, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this

How about the Atlanta region that supports Sunday sales seceed from Georgia? Then we can finally be a modern 21st century city/state and let the dirt dwellers of the rest of this backwards state live in squaller….I’m tired of our taxes going to support these narrow minded people in other areas of the state and they fight to keep us from doing what we need..Let them fend for themselves and see how quick they come running back!!! Oh by the way Sonny, it ain’t about what you think or beleive it’s about what the voters want…Get that through your thick headed narrow minded middle Georgia mentality (or lack there of)!!!

By Buster

February 17, 2009 9:37 AM | Link to this

Sonny is the worst governor ever. The BIG GUY would have been a better choice. Boot Sonny. YES to Sunday sales. It is not Sunny in GA with Sonny.

By John

February 17, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this

This bill (SB 16) doesn’t even MAKE Sunday sales of alcohol legal……nowhere, nohow!

ALL this bill proposes is that LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (county, city) that already have LEGAL package sales of alcohol would have the ability to put a referendum on their LOCAL ballot allowing their voters to decide whether or not they wish to extend the already-legal sales to Sunday after 12 noon.

If the folks in one county don’t want alcohol package sales on Sunday, fine…..they don’t have to have it. They don’t HAVE to even bring it to a vote…….but maybe another county DOES want it, and would pass such a referendum.

As a life-long Republican, I’ve always admired the idea that the GOP was behind “smaller government” and allowing the smallest governing body that was able to address a LOCAL issue to do so. Opposition to SB 16 goes AGAINST that ideal and, instead, smacks of “nanny state” doctrine.

It’s time for our legislators to stop pandering to those who would force their religious-based views on others…..and time for our GOVERNOR to stop pandering to his deep-pocket liquor distributor/liquor store buddies (Don Leeburn, Richard Tucker….both on the Board of Regents, oh…the irony) and do the RIGHT thing for this State.

By Jeremiah

February 17, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this

For medical reasons, I had to give up alcohol. I now drink non-alcoholic beer. Guess what - I can’t buy it on Sunday because the Blue-noses choose to stock it among the alcohol instead of among the soft drinks.

By Ryan

February 17, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

Toward A Christian on the 16th at 4:43 PM

I am a Christian too. This is more about the principle of being to go some place to drink and then drive home drunk. Granted not everyone does that but there are those people that do this. I am okay with the whole fact of liquor stores closing at 11. But I would like to be able to go out and purchase alcohol on any day that I would like. Christ was an awesome person who always wanted humanity to be happy. Well more then half of this state would like there to be alcohol sales on Sunday. So why can’t we just make this a majority thing, since the majority of Georgia would like alcohol sales I say do it. Isn’t that how you were always taught how to vote on stuff in school. You would take a vote and the majority got their way.