Sunday alcohol sales prove popular with most voters

[RamblingRose]

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Sunday alcohol sales prove popular with most voters

By Johnny Edwards

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6:14 a.m. Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Georgia's age-old, all-out ban on buying beer, wine and liquor at shops on Sunday has met its end.


<snip>


The overwhelming sentiment at the polls Tuesday: Stop inconveniencing shoppers with a mix of church and state.

"It's really a religion issue that shouldn't be regulated by the state," attorney Leah Brohm said as she left her polling place in the gym at Sandy Springs' Hammond Park.


<snip>


The vote was a walloping defeat for the Georgia Christian Coalition, which first lost a lobbying war at the state Capitol, then tried in vain to muster local-level opposition. No organized "vote no" campaign emerged, with most churches choosing to stay out of the fray.

<snip>


Tuesday's referendums followed a five-year battle at the state level, prolonged for years by teetotaler Gov. Sonny Perdue's pledge to veto any measure ending the Sunday ban. Nathan Deal, however, took a different stance after succeeding Perdue.


...

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/sunday-alcohol-sales-prove-1220719.html?cxtype=rss_news

[MinneapolisMatt]

1. I've always thought that it's such a silly law.

Hope Minnesota is next.

[RamblingRose]

3. I thought Georgia was the only state living in the dark ages.

I can see Georgia having it because it's in the bible belt, but Minnesota?

[MinneapolisMatt]

7. I know. Weird, huh?

We have some really bizzaro liquor laws.

[BiggJawn]

20. Still no Sunday take-out in Indiana

You can have beer with your hotwings at the "sports" bar*, or a few drinkie-poos with dinner, but no carry out.

Can't buy a car on Sunday in Indiana, either.



* and only then if the establishment meets minimum guidelines for annual food sales.

[RamblingRose]

23. Can't buy a car on Sunday?? That's how to stimulate the economy. If I didn't go shopping on Sunday

I don't know when I'd ever have time to go.

[BiggJawn]

24. "Blue" laws...

Alcohol sales are also prohibited on Election Day until after the polls close. No sales on Xmas day. I believe oral sex is still illegal.

Welcome to Indiana. Please set your watch back 60 years...

[stlsaxman]

25. We had "Blue Laws" in MO until the early '70's... No alcohol or "vanity items"- shoelaces, soap,

clothes, shoes, etc. Heck- we used to go to East St. Louis and buy cases of beer late Saturday night/Sunday morning (3 AM) for Sunday drinking... AND we could do it at the tender age of 18!

"Boy, THOSE were the days..."- :eyes:

[HopeHoops]

2. PA just allowed that a couple of years ago - 12-5 but only at the larger state stores.

[Ian David]

4. Let's hope they remember this sentiment the next time they vote on Marriage Equality.

The overwhelming sentiment at the polls Tuesday: Stop inconveniencing shoppers with a mix of church and state.

"It's really a religion issue that shouldn't be regulated by the state," attorney Leah Brohm said as she left her polling place in the gym at Sandy Springs' Hammond Park.

[bananas]

5. Amen to that! nt

[Javaman]

6. with the mix of politics and religion these days, people need a good belt after church...

:rofl:

[LanternWaste]

12. And here I though it was people simply

And here I though it was people simply wrapping our addictions in the flag of freedom.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

8. Here here for beer on Sunday!

[Historic NY]

9. Thats probably got them Dry Baptists all in a tizzy.....

[CottonBear]

10. The ban was lifted only in certain municipalities. It is not statewide or even county wide.

Geirgia has over 150 counties (more than any state but Texas.) There are some rural areas and conservative suburban areas which will not even have the issue on the ballot for years if ever.

In the blue city where I live, drinks can already be served on Sundays but only after 12:30 PM and only in restaurants which sell more food than drinks. In other words, no clubs can be open on Sunday. Liqour stores close at 11:30 PM Mon. - Sat. and last call in clubs and bars is 2AM.

edit: Of course, there is a long standing Georgia tradition of the local bootlegger who sells Sunday beer! And most everyone buys their Sunday beer, wine and liquor on Saturday. We just plan in advance! ;)

[RebelOne]

13. My county didn't have it on the ballot.

I hope it will follow suit soon. But the county next to me did and it passed. So at least I know that I can go down the road a few miles on Sunday to get my wine.

[CottonBear]

18. I think it will make for safer roads: people can drink at home. n/t

[RamblingRose]

15. That's the stupid part - you could buy alcohol in a restaurant on Sundays in some areas but not

in a store, thus promoting drinking and driving.

[CottonBear]

17. Yes indeed, that was the result. I've witnessed many drivers from Oconee Co. on Sundays speeding to

and from restaurants in Athens-Clarke County and pulling into the local restaurant/sports bars. These are the ultra-conservative, no liquor in our county, repub-tea party folks who hate Athens but who love to drink and drive here (after church, of course.) I live in the city, so I could walk or take a cab to such an establishment if I wished to go there on a Sunday. (I live on the border of the 2 counties.)

[Lance_Boyle]

11. We still have our blue laws in NC.

ABC stores can't open on Sundays, and nobody can sell or serve wine or beer before noon on Sundays. Except churches. They can serve wine as long as they pretend it's zombie blood.

The irony of it all is that the Christains bent on retaining this nonsensical law are essentially forcing the State's ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement) officers to work on Sunday mornings making sure that nobody is selling or serving the demon alcohol. When by the Christains' own theology those officers probably ought to be in church...

[SoapBox]

14. Guess I've been living in California too long...

Hell...Liquor, Wine, Beer...just go to the store (grocery, drug store, mini markets) and buy it...when ever.

That would have been a really great thing for me MANY years ago...and now I don't even drink!

It's simply no big deal.

[CottonBear]

19. Oh! But it is a HUGE deal here in GA! The cultural chasm is enormous. n/t

[No Elephants]

16. Many Americsns enjoy drinking on weekends. Film at 11.

[d_r]

21. I never understood these laws

What makes Sunday any different? Why select it out as a day not to sell alcohol that is sold on other days? Is it because it is the beginning of the week or something? It really doesn't make sense to me.

[TK421]

22. BECAUSE ITS OUT OF RESPECT FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!@

THATS WHY!@!!!!!





































seriously, I don't know...good question!

[d_r]

26. Exactly :)