Booze bill would allow sales nearer colleges

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Officials in Athens are waiting for the governor to sign a change in state law that would allow stores to sell beer and wine closer to college campuses.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports ( http://bit.ly/YZMQir ) the bill that passed the state Legislature on its final day Thursday was designed to lure a grocery store to downtown Athens. The location of the proposed development is located less than a football field's length from the University of Georgia campus.

That posed a problem because developers say a grocery store would insist on selling beer and wine. And current state law bans any package sales of alcohol within 100 yards of a college campus.

State lawmakers voted to change the law to allow beer and wine sales as long as the local government approves.