It's been a fact of life for generations of Georgians -- if you want your fridge stocked with beer on Sundays, you'd better plan ahead.
That could change Tuesday, though, as voters in 51 metro Atlanta jurisdictions, and more than 100 statewide, decide whether the Sunday prohibition against package sales of beer, wine and booze lives on or dies. The referendums follow a heated battle at the state Capitol that put the question in local hands -- Georgia being the last Southern state to do so.
In metro Atlanta, a slow unraveling of the ban appears likely. An organized opposition movement never materialized.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution fanned out in Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties, asking voters to weigh in.
Susan Benedikt
Dunwoody
Women's clothing store saleswoman
Opposes Sunday alcohol sales
"I work in retail, and when the stores all opened on Sundays years and years ago, the shopping was just 24-7. I just feel there should be one day when everybody gets a day off. With all the drunk drivers on the road, one day without alcohol sales isn't going to kill anyone."
Wallace Majure
Dunwoody
Nightclub co-owner
Supports Sunday alcohol sales
"I don't see any reason why not. It just doesn't make sense to me, to pick one day a week to not have it. I don't think it would hurt anything, but it would increase store owners' revenue."
Bob Leavey
Dunwoody
Owner of d'Vine Wine Bar & Shop
Opposes Sunday alcohol sales
"I'd have to pay staff to work an extra day, and I'd lose my day off. I'm just not sure it's worth it to me. It may be worth it to the big grocery stores and the gas stations. They're open anyway. They don't have to do anything but turn on the lights."
Darryl Brookshire
Kennesaw
Window cleaning company owner
Supports Sunday alcohol sales
"A lot of people talk about keeping the Sabbath holy, but God is God no matter what day it is and nothing will change that. I wouldn't say it should be against the law any longer to buy alcohol on Sundays."
Tiffani Taylor
Kennesaw
Customer service representative
Opposes Sunday alcohol sales
"I have lived in a state where alcohol was sold seven days a week, but there is nothing wrong with the way things are currently done here. It has worked well thus far, and it's not as if the current law doesn't allow you to drink at all. You can still buy alcohol in restaurants or buy enough on Saturday if you need to drink on Sunday."
Doug Clever
Roswell
Telecom salesman
Supports Sunday alcohol sales
"I think it's silly we limit businesses to six days a week. If there's demand, we ought to be filling that demand."
J.C. Burleson
Alpharetta
Health insurance executive
Opposes Sunday alcohol sales
"We don't have to be 24/7 with everything to have access. Six days is enough. I work in the health insurance field, and I'm amazed at how we abuse drugs in this country."
Gwen Brimm
Snellville
Attorney
Supports Sunday alcohol sales
"Alcohol is legal. When people use it or buy it shouldn't be up to the Legislature."
Lorene Lawson
Norcross
Grocery store cashier
Opposes Sunday alcohol sales
"I don't drink because I'm an alcoholic [four years sober]. Sunday is kind of sacred, and if an alcohol sales ban is already in place, nobody is dying because they can't have it. Why bother changing it?"
Jean Zabin
Atlanta
Attorney
Supports Sunday alcohol sales
"I think it would be good for business and Super Bowl Sunday. It's always awkward going to the store and seeing the lights in the beer aisle are all out."
Robert Jenkins
Snellville
Emergency services consultant
Opposes Sunday alcohol sales
"Alcohol abuse is such a problem because of the availability of alcohol. But nobody in government has got the guts to attempt to limit the availability. They'd much rather go along with everyone else. They don't want to admit that it affects everyone's families."
Rich Edinger
Lawrenceville
Engineer
Supports Sunday alcohol sales
"People should have the right to get alcohol on a Sunday. I really don't think it's an issue anymore. I'm not a big alcohol person myself. Usually, I end up doing without [on Sundays]. But it should at least be available if someone else wants it."
Renee Mullen
Canton
Homemaker
Opposes Sunday alcohol sales
"I think you have six days to buy liquor or alcohol, you do not need to buy alcohol on Sunday. It's the Lord's day."
Mike Thompson
Canton
Law enforcement officer
Supports Sunday sales
"To me, I think it's a right of the people if they want to have a drink on Sunday. If I have to go down to a restaurant to get a drink, I'm don't think that's something I should have to do. If I have some friends over and we want to have a drink, I should be able to purchase it at the store."
Staff writers Joel Anderson, Janel Davis, Patrick Fox, Jeffry Scott and Andria Simmons contributed to this article.
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