Wine Restrictions

Filed in archive Wine Shops on November 22, 2006

At least in the southern United States, there are still a good number of restrictions when it comes to selling wine and other alcoholic beverages.

I remember for awhile I was trying to do my grocery shopping early in the morning so that I had the rest of the day free to work. However, if I checked out of the grocery lines before 9 a.m., they wouldn't let me buy any wine.

Now, laws like this are totally stupid. It's not like I was going to pop open the cork when I got to my car! I was trying to get my shopping done so I could go home and get some writing work done rather than have it interrupt my day.

A similar law about buying wine on Sundays is up for grabs now in Atlanta, Georgia according the Macon.com:

Few other states also prohibit beer and wine sales on Sunday.

But getting the Legislature to make the change won't be easy. Past efforts to change the law have seldom gotten far in the Legislature, whether it was controlled by Democrats or Republicans.

The latest effort is being made by the Georgia Food Industry Association and Georgia Association of Convenience Stores. The two groups provide free food and drink to lawmakers while they are in session. Retailers want the chance to compete with restaurants and bars that can sell beer and wine on Sundays.

But the traditionally conservative Legislature has expressed opposition to allowing the sale of beer and wine on a day when many go to church.