Alcohol Referendum Off the Table in Brooklet…For Now

The City of Brooklet has removed from consideration the alcohol referendum for Sunday sales…for now.

The council had voted back in July to give voters the opportunity to decide if they would like beer and wine sales in city limits on Sundays, like the City of Statesboro and other cities and counties in the region.

Due to the fact that none of the council members seeking re-election have contested races, the council does not see a need to hold an election simply for the one ballot question. Councilman Greg Schlierf told council members Thursday that the issue could be brought up again in 2018, which will have two elections – the primary in March and the general election in November. Both will have considerably higher turnout than off-year municipal elections.

The charter for the City of Brooklet does not require that a public hearing be held ahead of the vote to place the measure on the ballot.

Brooklet currently allows the sale of beer and wine Monday through Saturday. The City of Statesboro and Bulloch County both allow Sunday alcohol sales of beer and wine, as well as the serving of alcoholic beverages at food establishments on Sundays after 11:45 a.m. The Town of Register has also voted on a similar referndum, which was rejected by voters.

Many counties in Georgia still prohobit alcohol sales on federal, state, and local election days and few counties and cities remain with Sunday sales prohibitions in place. More recently, the City of Rincon in neighboring Effingham County, in November 2016, passed a measure to allow Sunday alcohol sales.

The City of Reidsville in Tattnall County voted earlier this year to place a referendum for Sunday alcohol sales on the November ballot.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Council meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.