A majority of the Columbus City Council Wednesday favored changing a city ordinance to allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays and extend the on-premise sale hours of bars and restaurants.
During an all-day council workshop Wednesday, Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin, a former restaurateur, suggested allowing Sunday alcohol sales and giving bars and restaurants an extra 30 minutes to sell alcohol.
The council only discussed the matter; no vote was taken.
The discussion came in the wake of Starkville aldermen voting on Tuesday to allow Sunday beer sales, and to petition the state to allow sale of liquor and wine on Sunday.
“We”re trying to find innovative ways to bring in some money for the city, since sales tax has been down,” said Gavin, noting now “strictly beer” can be sold in Columbus on Sundays.
The city”s current ordinance allows for the sale of alcohol only from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
“I know this gets into a moral issue with a lot of people, but we already have alcohol sales,” he added, suggesting Columbus bars and restaurants be allowed to sell alcohol until 1:30 a.m. “Being a previous restaurant owner, I realize these people do not start making money until 11 p.m.”
Gavin noted extending sale hours (and days) would add substantially to the city”s sales tax revenue, provide “areas to expand restaurant sales” and make Columbus more marketable to professionals considering locating in the Friendly City.
“It also, I believe, will make our city look more progressive,” he explained. “We will now open ourselves to a lot of different restaurants that may locate in Columbus. It”s an avenue that says we”re open for business.
“We”re serving beer on Sundays, so we”re already serving alcohol,” he added.
Ward 5 Councilman Kamal Karriem, Ward 4 Councilman Fred Stewart and Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor agreed with Gavin.
Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens and Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box are opposed to Sunday alcohol sales and extended bar and restaurant sale hours.
“I”ve seen what alcohol can do to a person,” said Box, who noted his father “was an alcoholic.” “I would be totally against selling alcohol on Sundays. I think we”ve got plenty of time for people to drink.”
“It”s totally against my belief,” said Mickens, a pastor.
“I understand it”s going to be a very controversial subject,” Gavin said. “We already have alcohol sales on Sunday. We”re just extending it to a different venue. I”m looking at it strictly from a dollar standpoint.”
“I think most businesses, if you gave them that extra time, would be appreciative,” said Columbus Mayor Robert Smith.
“I strongly feel like we need to look at this thing from more than a financial standpoint,” said Mickens. “You”ve got to look at it from a people standpoint. Are we going to be responsible for lives after 1 o”clock?”
“I think the city”s taking a step backwards when the city does this,” said Box.
The four councilman who favored Sunday alcohol sales also supported allowing bars and restaurants to sell alcohol until 1:30 a.m. and requiring them to close for business by 2 a.m.
City Attorney Jeff Turnage was asked to draw up a working ordinance and then the council will schedule a public forum on the matter.
If the council votes to approve a new alcohol ordinance, it would be submitted for approval by the Mississippi State Tax Commission Alcoholic Beverage Control division.
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