Sunday Alcohol Sales Bill Passes State Senate Cmte
SB 10, the alcohol sales bill in the State Senate, was reported favorably by the State and Local Government Operations Cmte on February 03, 2011, according to the legislature’s website.
This is a good sign that this may actually be the year that the state allows localities to decide whether they want to sell alcohol on Sundays.
According to the Associated Press, Georgia is only one of three states which forbid selling alcohol on Sundays.
State Sen. Donzella James, whose son was killed in a drunk driving accident, as previously reported by APN, told the Cmte, “I’d rather for people to purchase and take it home than to go out and drink.”
The measure passed 6-1. No speakers testified in opposition to the measure.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, Senate Rules Chairman Don Balfour, R-Snellville, a co-sponsor of the measure, said it may come up for a vote as early as this week.
According to the AJC’s Political Insider blog, the Georgia Christian Coalition released the following statement:
The Georgia Christian Coalition today said it was ending its three year legislative battle to prevent retail beer, wine and whiskey sales on Sunday, but did express appreciation that Senate Bill 10 would forbid Sunday sales until after church on Sunday….
The Senate will vote next week and the GCC expects fewer than 12 Senators to support [its] position. The Bill itself does not permit sales; it allows local governments to have a referendum on sales as defined. Governor Nathan Deal supports the measure; Governor Sonny Perdue promised a veto.