Powder Springs may allow alcohol sales on Christmas

Alcohol might be allowed to be sold and served in Powder Springs on Christmas Day.

Following a public hearing, a decision is expected by the Powder Springs City Council during the 7 p.m. Monday meeting in the Council Chambers, Community Development building, 4488 Pineview Drive, Powder Springs.

Distilled spirits, wine and malt beverages would be allowed to be sold and served on Christmas if approved by the Council.

However, packaged distilled spirits still could not be sold on Thanksgiving.

Other changes in the city’s alcohol laws in Ordinance 2017-12 that will be up for a vote Monday are:

• Veterans who were discharged "under conditions other than honorable" may apply to sell alcoholic beverages when they were not allowed to do so before.
• An applicant for an alcoholic beverage license will have to be a U.S. citizen or possess a valid U.S. government-issued I-551 card but no longer be "a resident alien" or "a legal alien" for at least one year.
• Percentage of food to be served would be 30 percent and no longer 50 percent where alcoholic beverages are served.
• Alcohol license holders will have 12 months, instead of six months, to open their businesses.
• Within seven days, changes "in owners, agents, licensees or their addresses, their marriage status or any changes in the operation of the business" will need to be reported to the city instead of "as soon as reasonably practicable after such changes" or else the license will be void.