Sunday alcohol sales begin in Winder

UNDATED - Sunday alcohol sales began in Winder yesterday, less than a week after voters there approved the sales. But it was the exception and not the rule.

It could be weeks before residents in 50 cities and towns across Georgia can buy alcohol on Sunday at the retail level, despite passage of referendums on the question Tuesday.

Kathy Kuzaza of the Georgia Food Industry Associations says it's going to be ``a bumpy road as jurisdictions work on the legal and bureaucratic procedures to officially begin Sunday sales.

In addition to Winder, a handful of other cities began allowing the sales yesterday.

The Gainesville City Council is to consider first reading of an ordinance Tuesday that would set the guidelines for such sales and a possible effective date. The Suwannee City Council has the issue on its agenda for a called meeting and workshop later in the week.

The issue was not on the ballot statewide. The state Legislature this year ended recurring debate by giving local communities the power to decide for themselves.

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford and Georgia News Network contributed to this story.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/11/243552