McDuffie County Backs Sunday Booze Sales

(McDuffie County, Georgia) - Debra Hill says it’s about time she can look forward to having a drink with her meal on Sundays.

Debra Hill, voted for Sunday alcohol sales: “I voted yes we should have it because we don’t have a restaurant down here that we can go to and enjoy and sit and drink a couple of beers we have to go to Augusta and by us working don’t have transportation, yes.”

57 percent of voters said yes to alcohol sales in restaurants on Sundays, and 43 percent said no.

Several churches in the community, including a Baptist church were against Sunday alcohol sales.

Hill: “I don’t think they’re going to be too fond of it but why not? Why can’t we have it?  We have bootleggers.”

County manager Don Norton says a yes vote mean yes to economic development.

Norton:  “We think it’s a good thing. The people were allowed the opportunity to speak their peace on it they said that they would like to have that option available.  So we certainly will be putting that in an ordinance form and we look at it that it will be good for economic development.

Norton says it’s difficult to get restaurants interested in coming to town if they don’t have a revenue source like liquor sales.  He says it’s something the majority of the community wanted.

Norton: “Individuals don’t have to drink the alcohol on Sunday or any other day if they don’t choose to do that.  It’s strictly a personal preference thing.”

Norton: “In my opinion things have softened up a little bit.  People realize they have to make their own choices on these kinds of things so the option is available to them if they choose to do that if not they don’t have to.”

58 percent of Harlem voters backed Sunday booze sales.