It's going

to be a while before you can hoist a cold beer while watching a Sunday

football game in a Coweta County restaurant.

The County

Commission Tuesday night heard a request from local restaurant owner Tom

Parker, who wants to sell beer and wine at his Southern Fried Country

eatery near Senoia.

"I only

do about 10-15 percent business in beer and wine, but I'd like to be open

on Sundays and offer that service," he said.

Parker calculated

that if 10 restaurants opened on Sunday and sold beer and wine, the county

would net about $128,000 in additional revenue.

He added he

had talked to the state's deputy attorney general, who said the governing

body of the county could allow Sunday sales without calling for a referendum.

But county

attorney Mitch Powell disagreed.

"I think

what you're referring to is the county can set the hours establishments

are open from 12 a.m-3 p.m. on Sunday mornings," he said.

But Parker

claimed no referendum was needed, and the commission should consider his

request.

Commissioner

Vernon "Mutt" Hunter said he knew the law and would not consider

it until the people of Coweta County voted it in through the referendum

process.

As Hunter continued

to make his point, Parker said this was a matter of separation of church

and state, but Hunter said that was not his point.

Commission

Chairman Leigh Schlumper stopped the discussion and suggested Parker write

down all his questions and requests and submit it to the board.

"We have

to have some questions answered," she said.

Schlumper said

it was a possibility the County Commission could discuss it further at

their upcoming October work session.