Business & Tech
Voters Say 'Yes" to Sunday Alcohol Sales, While Retailers Aren't So Sure
Overwhelmingly local residents seem to support selling beer, wine and liquor on Sundays, but retailers don't expect more sales.
The people have spoken and they feel it is time for Georgia to leave the last vestiges of blue laws behind, with voters approving Sunday alcohol sales.
More than almost 79 percent of the 7,155 Alpharetta citizens who voted said yes. In Milton, 77 percent of the 3,955 voters also said yes.
Is your retail store in Alpharetta or Milton going to sell beer, wine or liquor in package sales on Sundays? Tell the community in the comments below.
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However, to most voters surveyed before the polls closed on Nov. 8, this did not come as a big surprise. Nearly every voter we spoke to at the polls yesterday, said they would be voting for the referendum. Alpharetta voter, Lisa said, “I just don’t think it’ll make much of a difference whether we have it or not. Georgia is one of the few states left that does not sell alcohol on Sundays, I mean come on. It’s time to get with the program.”
Some voters felt North Fulton would have been missing out on a chance for some economic growth had the referendum not passed.
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However, Jason Kauti, manager of the on Highway 9, said he was skeptical about such a prediction. “I don’t think it’s going to raise sales at all,” He said. “It’ll just split up our Saturday sales, instead of a busy Saturday it’ll be an average day and then we’ll have a slow Sunday.”
Despite his doubts, his store will be open on Sundays starting on Nov. 20, in accordance with Milton’s new regulations that go into effect on Nov. 19.
Alpharetta package store , on South Main Street, will also be open for business at this time. Reds manager John Wicks is also unsure about the new Sunday openings. Wicks said he does not know if Sunday sales will increase revenue but, “I guess we’re all about to find out.”
The selling of alcohol on Sunday, in retail stores will be allowed from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Roswell and Sandy Springs. But don’t forget to buy some extra beer this Saturday for your Sunday barbeque, as the Sunday sales can't start just yet.
