This just in: Savannah City Council approves Sunday package sales of alcohol

From the emailed press release from city of Savannah spokesperson Bret Bell:

For Immediate Release
Date: December 15, 2011

City Council approves Sunday sale of alcohol

Savannah City Council today approved changes to the Savannah Alcohol Ordinance to allow for Sunday package sales of beer, wine and distilled spirits, as was approved in a referendum by voters at the Nov. 8 election. The changes go into effect immediately.

Retail establishments selling alcohol by the package will now be allowed to sell on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. It is up to each business to decide whether it will do so. As of today, 173 businesses in Savannah now have the option to sell alcohol on Sunday.

State law does not allow package sale of distilled spirits (liquor) on Christmas, which falls on a Sunday this year. Package sale of beer and wine will be allowed on Christmas Sunday, however.

The last thing that I read indicated that the change would not go into effect until January 1st, but it sounds like Dec. 18 will be the first Sunday that Savannahians can legally purchase beer, wine, or liquor (aside, of course, from individual drinks available at restaurants).

I did not know anything of the state law banning liquor sales on Christmas. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence and is not a blurring of lines between church and state . . .

I expect convenience stores and grocers to begin selling beer and wine on Sundays right away. It will be interesting to see how quickly liquor stores and wine shops change their hours.

Just a reminder on how the vote looked in November: