Sponsor plans to alter Sunday sales legislation

MONTGOMERY -- The sponsor of a bill that would authorize city councils in Florence and Sheffield to set referendums on Sunday alcohol sales said Tuesday he'll alter the bill to remove objections that could doom it.

Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, said he'll amend his Sunday sales bill by removing language that would allow residents to order a vote on Sunday sales simply by gathering names on petitions.

"It's a worrisome part where it could give an unfair advantage to people who would go and get petitions and get the issue on a ballot,'' Ford said.

Ford's bill would allow city councils to schedule referendums over whether alcoholic beverages should be sold on or off-premises in certain wet cities in Alabama. His original bill also would allow a citizen-initiated referendum, something that has rarely been done in Alabama.

"There is no mandate to do anything on this issue,'' Ford wrote in an op-ed piece promoting the Sunday sales bill. "And because my bill gives cities the choice instead of requiring seven-day sales, these communities do not have to act on the issue.''

The bill is scheduled to be the first new business debated today when the House reconvenes in

regular session, said Rules Committee Chairman Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill.

The bill would affect Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Decatur, Dothan, Enterprise, Florence, Gadsden, Ozark, Selma, Sheffield, Sylacauga, Talladega and Tuscaloosa. These cities allow alcoholic beverage sales six days a week.

Florence has partial Sunday alcohol sales, restricting the purchase mainly to restaurants and hotels.

Sheffield has a slightly different local bill that has already been filed. It calls for a referendum on Sunday sales and would mirror the Florence guidelines.

If Ford's bill passes, the city councils would be able to regulate when and where on-premise and off-premise Sunday sales could take place.

Proponents of the Sunday sales vote say the citizen-initiative language is too scary and may cause some legislators to vote against it solely for that reason.

"It's too easy to bring a vote that ought to be up to a city council,'' Ford said.

Toby Roth, a lobbyist for the Partnership for Economic Progress, said no one has expressed a fear of a citizen initiative, but "that could be a concern.''

The Partnership for Economic Progress consists of tourism, retail, grocery and alcoholic beverage interests.

Ford said several other Alabama cities have Sunday sales and they are attracting convention business that could be going to the 14 cities.

The legislation will have no affect on dry counties or in cities that don't currently allow alcoholic beverage sales.

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