Politics
Possible referendum could allow Sunday alcohol sales in North Augusta
Posted: 8:20 PM May 14, 2012
Reporter: Sheli Muniz
| Click to play video |
News 12 at 11 o'clock / Monday, May 14, 2012
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- In North Augusta, you cannot buy alcohol on Sundays. That goes for grocery stores, liquor stores, even bars and restaurants, but that could soon be changing.
State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow city leaders to put a referendum on the November ballot to let voters decide if selling beer and wine on Sundays is OK.
"I think it would be great for North Augusta. I'd like to see it. I know that in Aiken you can buy beer and wine on Sundays and in Augusta," said
North Augusta Wine and Beverage co-owner Adam Howard.
North Augusta could soon be on that list, too. If state lawmakers allow a referendum this November, the question for North Augusta leaders would be, "Do you allow restaurants to sell or do you allow restaurants and convenience stores to sell beer and wine only?" asked North Augusta Mayor Lark Jones.
On Monday night, council members discussed just that.
"We are hearing from the proponents that that is a deterrent to getting new restaurants and new places to come to our city," Jones said.
For Manuel's Bread Cafe Manager, Ransom Weatherford, it could only mean, "increased business volume, increased foot traffic for the neighborhood."
Something Weatherford says is long overdue.
"We have medicine that makes you happy when you are sad, makes you sleep when you are not tired. Why can't you have a mimosa or a glass of wine on Sunday?"
For package store owners like Howard it means an extra day of work.
"A seventh day that I'm open is another day that I have to turn on the electricity," he said. "It's another day I have to pay employees to be here."
But it could help keep people in North Augusta, which means more business.
"People that want to have a drink on Sunday are going to have a drink on Sunday, so they go other places like Aiken or Augusta," Weatherford said.
That is not something these city leaders or business owners want, but come November, it could be in your hands.
"North Augusta is very conservative. I wouldn't be shocked if the referendum did not pass," Jones said.
The House has passed the bill, and now it's in a Senate subcommittee. We should know in the next month if North Augusta gets the go-ahead.
Then, you could see the option on the November ballot.
Send Story to a Friend
Send to Facebook
Share to TwitterSearch:
Gray Television, Inc - Copyright 2002-2012 - Powered by Gray Interactive Media