Georgia is one of only three states in the country that does not provide some option for the off-premise sale of beer, wine or liquor on Sunday.
Sunday sales legislation allows local communities to decide whether local retailers should have the ability to sell alcohol on Sunday. Georgians were empowered to make this decision for local restaurants 10 years ago.
With the passage of this legislation, not one single sale of alcohol will be made by a retailer on Sunday. Local communities will simply have the opportunity to determine their own Sunday sales policies.
For many Georgians, the current law defies common sense. The State allows them to drive to a restaurant on Sunday to buy and consume alcohol, but the State will not allow them to go to the corner store and buy alcohol to consume in the safety of their own home.
Shopping patterns have changed in Georgia. Sunday is now the highest volume shopping day in many areas throughout Georgia. Yet customers who enter a retail store on Sunday are prohibited from purchasing alcohol.
Because Georgia is the only state in the Southeast with a total ban on Sunday sales, we are at a distinct disadvantage. Until current law is changed, Georgia will continue to lose revenue to across-the-border competitors in every surrounding state.
For retailers throughout Georgia, the opportunity for off-premise Sunday sales is about good customer service and basic economic fairness.
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