The Georgia House of Representatives is poised to add Senate Bill 10 to the general calendar, providing a means for local governments to allow package liquor sales on Sunday. The proposed legislation is currently in the House Rules Committee. Once the Committee adds SB 10 to the calendar, it will be eligible for a vote for final passage in the State House.

But if the Bill passes, as is widely expected, it will not automatically open the liquor store doors on Sundays.

Rather than directly permitting Sunday Sales of alcohol, Senate Bill 10 sets up a mechanism by which counties and cities may vote to allow Sunday sales.

New Georgia laws become effective on July 1 unless provided otherwise. At this point, the question of Sunday Sales is left to local governments.

Once Senate Bill 10 is effective, a county or city government wishing to open Sunday sales must pass a resolution calling for a referendum on Sunday sales.

The ballot question will read:

"Shall the governing authority of (name of county or municipality) be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of malt beverages and on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 P.M. and 11:30 P.M.?"

In cities and counties that allow package sales of liquor, the ballot question will include distilled spirits.

Under Georgia election law, the earliest dates that a Sunday sales referendum can be held are September 19 and November 8, 2011.

In cities like Johns Creek and Alpharetta, where local elections will be held November 8, a Sunday sales referendum might dramatically increase the number of voters in city elections and introduce a new dynamic to these low-turnout elections as voters who usually skip off-year elections are drawn to voting precincts by the question of Sunday sales.

[Sen. John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee) on the far right,  presenting Senate Bill 10 to the House Rules Committee. Closest to the camera is Rules Committee Chairman John Meadows. Also show are Rep. James Mills, Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Buckhead) and Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R-Milton)]