Voters to decide on rural liquor drink sales

Troup County voters will decide whether to allow the sale and consumption of on-premises distilled spirits drinks at businesses out in the county.

On Tuesday, the Troup County Board of Commissioners approved a request by several business owners to call for a referendum election in November on whether to allow mixed drink sales in the unincorporated areas of Troup County.

All three cities, LaGrange, Hogansville and West Point allow liquor drink sales. Currently, the county only allows the sale of beer and wine.

Notably, the referendum is only for on-premises consumption, so liquor stores are not up for debate.

County Manager Eric Mosley said if the measure is approved, staff would create an ordinance for the commissioners to approve to regulate hard alcohol drink sales, which would likely closely mirror what is already allowed in the cities with the exception of Sunday sales.

Although Georgia voters already approved the sale of alcohol on Sunday, county ordinance only allows the sale of beer and wine on Sunday. Since it currently doesn’t allow liquor sales at all, it would require a separate resolution to include Sunday sales. Commission Chairman Patrick Crews said there was not enough time to include the separate resolution for the November vote.

“There wasn’t enough time in state law,” Crews said, “That would be a separate motion resolution that we have to do for Sunday sales, So at this time, it’s just a Monday through Saturday.”

Multiple board members voiced concerns over the change but ultimately said it’s up to the voters.

“For the record, because I received a ton of calls about it, this is not a decision that’s being made by the board but by the people,” Commissioner Jimmy McCamey said.

“I know what alcohol does. I’m opposed to alcohol but I also know what the will of the people is. Having said that, I’m comfortable allowing a vote on it,” Commissioner Ellis Cadenhead said.

Ultimately, the commissioners voted unanimously 4-0 to call for the referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot.

All Troup County voters, including those in the cities, will be eligible to vote in the referendum.

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