Governor Nathan Deal signed into law Senate Bill 10 on April 28, 2011, which allows local communities to vote to allow the sale of alcohol in stores on Sunday. This new law makes Georgia the 37th state to approve Sunday liquor sales legislation. While we’re sitting here on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, we can’t currently stop into the local Publix or liquor store to re-stock for the family get-togethers this weekend. However, Gov. Deal felt that voters should be given the right to decide. This has always been a hotly debated issue in the past.

Several cities in Cobb County may consider adding a referendum to the November ballot to allow their citizens to decide. On Monday, May 16th, the Smyrna city council voted unanimously to place a referendum on allowing Sunday alcohol sales on the November ballot. Smyrna joined Kennesaw and Acworth, who have approved the referendum as well. Cobb’s other four cities have not yet considered the issue.

Cobb County has not voted on a referendum in part because there is not a county election planned for this Fall and would require a special referendum and the cost to hold it would be questionable. Cobb County will be closely watching the results at the city-level to see whether it is something to pursue.

So theoretically, if Smyrna passes the referendum in the Fall, you would be able to purchase alcohol on Sunday within the Smyrna city limits, but not in unincorporated Cobb County areas, such as the Vinings or Mableton. However, if one area passes the law, expect all other areas and cities to follow suit for fear of lost business in their area to other areas that have approved the referendum. In a period of economic uncertainty, this is a battle that each city will be pushing to get passed. So first the voters will decide and then the businesses. Clearly the grocery stores and convenience stores have the most to gain from this as they’re already open for business, but it will be interesting to see whether your local wine stores and liquor stores will open on Sunday.

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