David Dykes

ddykes@greenvillenews.com

Sunday alcohol sales, once a sure loser at South Carolina ballot boxes, have been approved in several cities and counties. Now, Greenville County voters will get to have their say, following County Council's final approval allowing a public vote in November 2016.

The political posturing already has begun, with supporters praising the decision as a move to let voters decide the issue. Likely opponents expressed concerns that alcohol can lead to trouble and sales should take at least one day off every week.

"I'm just glad to finally get the opportunity to allow the people to speak," restaurant owner David McCraw said Monday. "They (council members) are not legalizing Sunday alcohol. They're only allowing the people to vote and have their voice heard."

Dr. Phillip M. Baldwin, president of the Baptist Ministers' Fellowship of Greenville & Vicinity, said the fellowship historically has been against Sunday sales, "and I think that's where we stand now. It leads to impulsive buying which can lead to, sometimes, drunkenness and behavior that is alcohol related."

VOTE: Should Greenville allow countywide Sunday alcohol sales?

The council passed an ordinance calling for a referendum at the next general election to determine whether the South Carolina Department of Revenue can issue temporary permits allowing alcoholic beverage sales for on-premises consumption at places such as restaurants without regard to the day of the sale.

The vote also will decide if beer and wine can be sold at off-premises locations such as grocery stores.

The temporary permit would allow alcohol sales on Sundays.

County Attorney Mark Tollison said next year's vote won't impact municipalities that have approved Sunday alcohol sales. The measure, if approved, would allow Sunday sales in the county's unincorporated areas, he said.

The council voted to send the question to voters. Butch Kirven, the council's vice chair and chairman of the finance committee, was among the majority.

"There was broad recognition that we have to adjust a little bit to the times here since every municipality in the county had already passed similar ordinances and the unincorporated areas were sort of the odd guy out there," Kirven said.

"Most council members don't associate this with drinking so much as they do with equity with the other jurisdictions as far as business and the ability to compete," he said.

Council members Sid Cates, Lynn Ballard and Willis Meadows voted against the move.

Last year, a petition drive started by McCraw to put Sunday alcohol sales on the ballot in Greenville County failed to get the required number of signatures.

McCraw, owner of Palmetto Restaurant and Ale House on Pelham Road, worked to keep the issue alive in a county where six other municipalities allow alcohol sales in restaurants, bars and some retailers on Sundays.

McCraw, whose business is closed on Sundays, took to the streets, taking petition forms to restaurants, convenience stores and even a Greenville Drive baseball game.

He mobilized after County Council voted to hold off on a referendum that would allow alcohol to be sold in unincorporated areas of the county.

McCraw has estimated his restaurant loses between $200,000 and $250,000 a year in revenue since the Ale House, with no beer to offer, is closed on Sundays.

"When you can't provide what's in your name on a day of the week, it hurts to be hoping people would come in and expect to be able to have a cocktail or a beer and we just can't open," he said.

Conway Belangia, Greenville County elections director, said the question will be posed to voters Nov. 8, 2016, the next general election.

RELATED: Sunday alcohol sales a 'sign of times'

RELATED: Clemson restaurants ready for Sunday alcohol sales

EDITORIAL: Powdered alcohol needs regulation

If a majority of voters approve, Department of Revenue officials would issue permits allowing Sunday alcohol sales.

Sunday alcohol sales have come up at least twice before — once in 1999, when a similar referendum failed with 57 percent of voters against it. A year later, 57 percent of city of Greenville voters favored allowing restaurants, hotels and, later, grocers and convenience stores.

Another county referendum came up in 2010, but the question was defeated by the County Council in second reading and never made it to the ballot.

Baldwin said his fellowship hasn't recently discussed the Sunday alcohol-sales issue. But people who drink know to stock up for the weekend, Baldwin said.

"I've been in college and I know how to handle it, not buying alcohol on Sunday," Baldwin said. "There is merit in saying, 'Can't we have one day where we cannot have alcohol sales?'"