Just in time for the holiday season, residents in Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Tyrone will have their libations liberated for package sale on Sundays.
Dec. 4 will be the first such Sunday afternoon when, after 12:30 p.m., those over 21 will be able to legally purchase packaged beer and wine in all three municipalities.
In addition, Peachtree City retains the distinction as the only jurisdiction in Fayette County where liquor — whiskey, gin, vodka and the like — is sold, as such sales are not allowed in Fayetteville or Tyrone.
While it may be a merrier holiday season for drinkers in the cities, businesses in the unincorporated county will have to wait a few more months before they will have a chance to vote on a Sunday alcohol sales referendum.
That’s because the Fayette County Commission decided not to spend $40,000 to hold a special election solely for the Sunday sales measure. Instead, the measure is likely to be placed before voters at the presidential preference primary slated for March 6.
Shut out of Sunday sales in particular are the Publix supermarket just outside the eastern limits of Peachtree City and a number of convenience stores, which are also located in unincorporated Fayette County.
For now, their loyal customers will have to do their early shopping the other six days of the week, or trudge to the cities if they forget.
The Sunday sales referendum was made possible by a law passed by the Georgia legislature this year. But not every community in Georgia passed the measure: including nearby Palmetto, which defeated the referendum and thus will stay “dry” on Sundays.
Passage was not a problem in Peachtree City, where the Sunday sales initiative was more popular than any of the three city council candidates on the ballot.
