A bill that would greatly reduce the population requirement for holding a wet/dry referendum in the state and allow for continued Sunday sales of alcohol in restaurants now sits on the governor’s desk.
The bill — which passed the House on March 12, 49–23 with 12 abstentions — passed the Senate on April 21, 17–9.
At press time, Todd Stacy, press secretary for Gov. Bob Riley, said the governor had not made a decision on whether he would sign it.
House Bill (HB) 175 — sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Martin, D-Clanton, a member of First Baptist Church, Clanton — would allow municipalities with a population of 1,000 or more located in “dry” counties to hold a wet/dry referendum. Blount, Clay and Randolph counties are excluded.
Now a population of 7,000 or more is required for such a vote.
The bill was amended twice in the Senate: to increase the population requirement from 500 or more and to allow restaurants currently serving alcohol on Sunday to continue that practice.
The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) ruled in December 2008 that restaurants statewide could no longer hold dual licenses — one allowing them to sell alcohol Monday through Saturday and a second one to sell alcohol on Sunday.
HB 175 would grandfather in restaurants now serving alcohol on Sunday, excluding them from the ABC ruling, which would apply to new restaurants.
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