At Least Arizonans Can Still Buy Beer on Sundays

Friday, February 18, 2011

At Least Arizonans Can Still Buy Beer on Sundays

Posted By Dan Gibson on Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 3:55 PM

Tough break, Georgians. Sure, we both can buy booze at restaurants on Sundays, but of all the things wrong with Arizona, at least we can still buy a six pack on the Christian Sabbath and drink our sorrows away.

Creative Loafing Atlanta:

This was supposed to be the year that state lawmakers would finally do something about Sunday sales.

They'd been handed a common-sense proposal — one that allows cities and counties to vote on whether booze could be purchased on the Sabbath in stores — that offered political cover. Poll after poll showed strong support for the measure. Gov. Sonny Perdue — who for years had vowed to veto bills involving Sunday alcohol sales — had left office. Nathan Deal, Perdue's successor, said he wouldn't nix the measure if passed. Hell, he even dropped the golden quote "I don't drink — I simply believe in democracy."

Still, lawmakers found a way to muck it up. Via the AJC:

The chances of a Sunday sales bill passing this year took a major hit on Thursday when Senate Republican leaders said the measure lacks the support necessary among the majority caucus.

"It's a decision the Republican caucus made to not move forward with it," Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, the Republican caucus chairman, said.

For the past several days, Senate Republicans have been wringing their hands over the measure that just a few weeks ago seemed destined for passage. Social conservatives apparently started applying pressure, causing lawmakers to get antsy.