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Alcohol Sales on Sunday[March.28.2008]Julie BercikWLCT-TV ColumbusThis issue of Sunday alcohol sales in Georgia has always sparked controversy. Recently a bill was passed in the senate allowing the sale of alcohol at a baseball stadium in Gwinnett County. The bill, which still has to pass in the house, uses similar language as previous bill from Senator Seth Harp. NBC 38's Julie Bercik sat down with the senator to find out why he's is backing this bill. A couple had their cart filled up with party items, including beer. They were throwing a party for their son, who just graduated basic training and got engaged. They didn't know you can't buy alcohol on Sundays in Georgia- and that left an impression on the senator. "If these young men can be in the military and travel and go around the world. It didn't make sense to me, particularly in our community , which is so strongly in support of Fort Benning why they couldn't acquire beer or wine Sunday,” sais Senator Seth Harp. The issue was brought before legislation in 2007 and received little attention until recently. "Gwinnett County comes up and says they have to have alcohol to sell in the stadium they want to build for the Braves farm team that is being bought and being brought down to Gwinnett County,” said Harp. That bill passed the senate, adding Harp's bill to it. Harp says the language in his is slightly different. "My bill had very strict restrictions. It had an hourly restrictions,” said Harp. For the senator, this bill is all about choices, but the opposition doesn't see it that way. "This about doubling the weekend hours. You can argue whether Saturday is the Sabbath or Sunday is the Sabbath, but you can't disagree with this Sunday is a weekend day. You're doubling the amount of hours young people have to go out and buy beer and alcohol,” said Jim Beck, President of the Christian Coalition. Beck adds this bill is simply bad policy. "'There is a tremendous costs associated with alcohol in the state, so why would you want more of something that is a bad thing,” said Beck. Even if the bill passes in the house, there're still a number of things that would have to happen with local government before it's official. In the end, stores make the call to sell. " We don't think it would be worth it for possibly ..five… six hours. You'd end up having to hire another person. For five…six hours we really don't think it would be worth it,” said Johnny Davis, Director of Operations for Wild Bill’s. For alcohol to be sold on Sunday's in Columbus, council would have to approve it, and then residents would vote on the issue. |
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