The Augusta Public Services Committee voted unanimously to conform to state-wide standards concerning the sale of alcohol on Sunday.
Based on the so-called “Brunch Bill” passed by the General Assembly, restaurants can sell alcohol on Sundays starting at 11 a.m., and the committee decided to allow for liquor and convenience stores to begin selling at that time as well.
The rules regarding open containers in liquor stores may also change. In the past, Georgia law strictly forbade open containers on a retail store’s premises. However, that law has eased the restrictions to allow for wine and liquor tasting events.
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In the proposed new ordinance, liquor store owners will be able to host 52 tasting events per year as long as only four bottles of wine or liquor are open at a time. Store owners will have to apply to the city to hold the tastings and will have to pay $25 for each event held.
During Masters Week, restaurants set up tents on premise to serve customers waiting to get a table inside. Currently, the owner has to apply for a special events license and appear before the commission. The new ordinance will streamline the process, and owners will now just have to notify the Sheriff’s Office and the Planning and Zoning Department of their intent to put up a tent.
The practice of “brown bagging,” that is customers bringing alcohol into establishments that do not have a license to serve alcohol, is still prohibited.
The full commission will vote on the changes next Tuesday in the general session.
Scott Hudson is the Editorial Page Editor of The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
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