Many Georgians celebrated when Governor Nathan Deal signed SB-17, the ‘Brunch Bill,’ into effect this May. Over the following months though, for those not paying close attention, that mimosa-filled excitement turned to confusion when not much changed.
Now as November approaches many Peach State residents will have the opportunity to vote to approve (or not) a new 10:30am time for alcohol sales on Sunday, moved up from the barbaric 12:30pm currently set.
City and county officials across Georgia have been at work approving the ordinance for the November ballot, with more than 50, including Atlanta, Athens, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, Macon, Sandy Springs, and Savannah already on board. More are expected to jump on the bandwagon in coming weeks.
The Georgia Restaurant Association, the driving force behind the multi-year process of getting the legislation passed into law, has estimated that Sunday morning alcohol sales will generate an average of $25,000 extra per restaurant per year. That would add up to an additional $100 million in revenue, and nearly $11 million more in tax revenue for the state.
So if you like Bloody Mary’s, or heck even if you are a teetotaler who just likes the idea of sparking Georgia’s economy, be ready to vote this November.
