Snellville wine store soliciting signatures for package liquor sales

Snellville wine store soliciting signatures for package liquor sales. File photo by Pexels

Snellville wine store soliciting signatures for package liquor sales. File photo by Pexels

Niko’s Wine Center at 2118 Scenic Highway hopes Snellville voters will agree the city needs sales of liquor by the package. Owners of the wine and craft beer store have started a door-to-door signature campaign to collect the 4,636 signatures needed before a referendum on the topic can be placed before voters. Georgia law requires 35 percent of those voting in the city’s last municipal election must petition to initiate a referendum before the question goes before voters.

All solicitors going door-to-door will be licensed by the Snellville Police Department after undergoing background checks and will display a picture ID badge.

Snellville’s mayor pro tem, city council and city manager are aware of the petition but are remaining neutral on the topic to allow voters the chance to decide.

According to Niko’s Wine Corner Owner Scott Danos, “Research provided by UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, shows Snellville is losing between $200,000 and $500,000 a year in tax revenue due to residents traveling to nearby cities for their liquor purchases.” According to the study, Suwanee collected $833,056 in total alcohol tax revenue in 2015 and Lilburn collected $475,860 versus Snellville’s $329, 914.

Information: Scott Danos at 770-605-1130. Questions to the Snellville Public Information Officer should be directed to Brian Arrington, 770-985-3517, barrington@snellville.org.