COLOR ME SHOCKED

Georgia is the last state in the South that forbids the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Last year, after numerous failed attempts, an initiative ended up on the ballot that would do nothing more than allow each local jurisdiction to vote on, and act upon, the matter. So, for example, the city of Roswell could put the issue of Sunday booze sales in front of the voters so that they could decide the issue.

That initiative passed, but not without the usual opposition from conservative church leaders and liquor store owners. The first group wanted to preserve that last of the old Sunday blue laws - “It’s the Lord’s day; keep it special!” - and the second wanted to avoid the necessity of staying open seven days a week to compete with supermarkets and warehouse outlets.

Even the Governor weighed in with a bullshit argument: “If you want to drink on Sunday, you should plan ahead.”

What a stupid restriction. You can buy alcohol at any licensed restaurant or bar after noon on Sunday, but you can’t buy a bottle of schnapps at the local Booze-Right for home consumption. Which alternative is more likely to put you on the road with a load on?

For those who argue that “it’s just one day a week,” I would say, “Why?” Why not restrict alcohol sales to a thirty-minute period immediately after sundown on Saturday? It makes the same amount of sense and is just as arbitrary and ridiculous.

Yesterday, numerous localities tossed the matter in front of the voters... and, with perhaps a single exception, overwhelmingly voted in favor of Sunday package sales. Overwhelmingly, as in 70% or more for, less than 30% against. Color me shocked. (Not really.)

Our little corner of the world did not vote on the matter, so we will live with the status quo ante for the time being. But it’s only a matter of time before the local merchants get tired of losing business to the stores in Roswell and Alpharetta just up the road.