House committee OKs Sunday sales referendum bill

MONTGOMERY -- A religious leader told a House committee Wednesday that alcoholic beverage sales six days a week are enough, and they should be given a day of rest on the seventh.

The Rev. Dan Ireland, executive director of the Alabama Citizens Action Program, asked the House Tourism and Travel Committee not to approve a bill that would authorize Sunday alcohol sales referendums in 14 cities.

"Consider the faith community,'' Ireland said. "One day historically has been a day of worship.''

The committee listened, but on a voice vote approved the bill that would authorize Sunday alcoholic beverage sales referendums in cities that include Florence and Sheffield, as well as Athens and Decatur.

The bill, by Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, is backed by a new group called Partnership for Economic Progress. Ford and Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, introduced bills authorizing the municipalities to conduct referendums for on-premise and off-premise alcoholic beverage sales seven days a week.

The partnership consists of the Alabama Restaurant Association, Alabama Hospitality Association, Alabama Retail Association, Alabama Travel Council, Dothan Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau, West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Wholesale Beer Association and Breweries, Petroleum and Convenience Store Marketers and the Alabama Grocers Association.

Bill Lloyd, a Tuscaloosa restaurant owner, is chairman of the partnership. He said the legislation grants certain communities the right to vote on Sunday alcoholic beverage sales, a right some other cities enjoy.

"Seven day beverage sales is ... about giving local communities the right to decide for themselves," Lloyd said.

Lloyd said it's not fair for voters in Auburn to have the power to vote on Sunday liquor sales while voters in Tuscaloosa do not.

Greg Gregerson, president of a Gadsden grocery business, said while his stores do not sell alcoholic beverages, he believes residents should be allowed to vote on the issue.

Gregerson is a board member for the Alabama Retail Association and the Alabama Grocers Association. Gregerson said the issue of Sunday sales is about tourism and convention business.

He said the grocers association for the past two years held its convention in Florida because Alabama didn't have an appropriate venue that offered alcoholic beverages on Sunday.

Patti Culp, executive director of the Alabama Travel Council, said Tuscaloosa and Gadsden are trying to build convention centers but they need Sunday alcoholic beverage sales since many conventions start on Sundays.

The legislation outlines two potential paths to Sunday sales.

City councils could authorize referendums for on premise and off premise liquor sales. Florence currently has on premise Sunday sales. Sheffield seeks on premise Sunday liquor sales after noon only under a local bill that passed the House this week.

Any referendum would have to be set by a resolution within 30 days of the legislation becoming law. The council could set the hours for on-premise and off-premise sales.

The second option would allow voters in the 14 cities to sign petitions calling for referendums.

The petitions would have to contain the certified names of at least 10 percent of those who voted in the last election in the municipality. Ireland said that's a notable difference from the normal 25 percent signature requirement for wet-dry petitions.

Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville, said referendums give the faith community the ability to get involved in a local referendum.

But Ireland said the 3,300 churches that contribute to ALCAP would do better to spend their money helping their local communities.

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb12345@aol.com.