Buying Beer On Easter: Forsyth County, Georgia Laws Explained

Alcohol sales are regulated by state governments in the United States, but in many states, liquor laws vary from county to county. In Forsyth County, Georgia, there are over 200 locations permitted to sell alcoholic beverages. Alcohol sales permits are issued by the Forsyth County Business License Department. The sale of alcohol is prohibited before 8 a.m. or after 11:45 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays, alcohol can be purchased from 12:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. So, can you buy beer on Easter Sunday in Forsyth County, Georgia?

Alcohol sales permits in Forsyth County, GA

Firstly, applicants must call 770-781-2105 to schedule an appointment with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Ordinances and Permits Services to obtain a background check. This background check comes with a mandatory fee of $20, which is paid to the Sheriff's Office. Applicants are required to present a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a state ID card, driver's license, or passport.

Once the background check is completed, applicants must take the results to the Business License Department, which is located at 110 E. Main St., Suite 130, Cumming, GA 30040. Here, a fee of $50 is paid to Planning and Community Development for the issuance of the sales permit.

The Forsyth County Business License Department issues alcohol sales permits during specific days and times: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. It is important to note that permits are not issued on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

While Forsyth County has over 200 locations permitted to sell alcoholic beverages, each licensee must comply with state laws and county ordinances. The Permits and Ordinances Unit conducts undercover sting operations to enforce these regulations and deter alcohol sales to minors.

In terms of alcohol sales regulations in Georgia, distilled spirits can only be purchased at licensed package stores, while beer and wine can be bought at convenience and grocery stores. Alcohol sales are permitted from 7 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays for retail locations. On-premise sales, such as in bars and restaurants, are allowed from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. onwards on Sundays in certain cities that have enacted a brunch bill.

Alcohol sales timings in Forsyth County, GA

Forsyth County in Georgia has over 200 locations permitted to sell alcoholic beverages. Alcohol sales permits are issued by the Forsyth County Business License Department. The permits are issued on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Alcohol sales timings in Forsyth County are in line with the state of Georgia's alcohol policies. Alcohol sales are not permitted before 8 am or after 11:45 pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, alcohol can be purchased from 12:30 pm to 11:45 pm.

Some special occasions allow for extended hours of alcohol sales. For example, bars and restaurants can sell alcohol until 2:30 am on St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve, July 3rd and 4th, and the Sunday before Memorial and Labor Day. On the other hand, alcohol sales are often prohibited on certain holidays, such as Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day.

It is important to note that alcohol sales laws can vary from county to county in Georgia, and some counties are considered dry counties, not allowing any retail sales of liquor.

Alcohol sales on Sundays in Forsyth County, GA

Alcohol sales on Sundays are permitted in Forsyth County, GA, but only within certain hours. Alcohol sales on Sundays in Georgia were banned until 2011, when cities and counties across the state voted on whether to continue the prohibition. The majority of communities (105 out of 127) chose to lift the ban.

In Georgia, alcohol sales hours vary by jurisdiction, but state law sets the earliest and latest sales times. On Sundays, alcohol sales in Forsyth County are restricted to between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. for off-premises retailers, such as grocery stores, liquor stores, and gas stations. On other days of the week, these retailers can sell alcohol from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Bars and restaurants have slightly different rules. While some jurisdictions have a "brunch law" that permits alcohol service from 11 a.m. on Sundays, Forsyth County does not appear to be one of them. Every other day of the week, bars and restaurants in Forsyth County can sell alcohol from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

It's important to note that these are the broadest hours for alcohol sales in Georgia, and individual jurisdictions may have more restrictive rules. Additionally, certain counties in Georgia are "dry counties," meaning they prohibit all retail liquor sales. As of 2023, the dry counties in Georgia include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also dry, except for the city of Helen.

Alcohol sales on Easter in Forsyth County, GA

Alcohol sales laws in the state of Georgia are decided by individual counties. Forsyth County, Georgia, has over 200 locations permitted to sell alcohol by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. Alcohol sales permits are issued by the Forsyth County Business License Department.

In Georgia, distilled spirits can only be purchased at licensed package stores, whereas beer and wine can be purchased at convenience and grocery stores. Alcohol sales are not permitted before 8 a.m. or after 11:45 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, alcohol can be purchased from 12:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. at licensed package stores and other retail locations. On-premise sales laws vary by county and city, with some cities enacting a brunch bill that allows bars and restaurants to sell alcohol from 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Forsyth County enforces these state-level alcohol sales restrictions, and it is currently unclear whether there are any additional county-level restrictions in place for Easter. To find out more about alcohol sales on Easter Sunday in Forsyth County, Georgia, it would be advisable to contact the Forsyth County Business License Department directly.

Open container laws in Georgia

Georgia's open container law prohibits the consumption or possession of open alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of any vehicle on a public highway or the shoulder of a public highway. This means that you can stroll along in public areas with a drink in hand, but you cannot have an open container in a vehicle.

An open container is defined as any can, bottle, or other container that holds alcohol with the intention of consumption. The law applies to vehicles that are on the road or shoulder of a public highway. An open alcoholic beverage container means any bottle, can, or receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage and either the container is open or the seal is broken, or the contents have been partially removed.

The term "passenger area" includes the areas where the driver and passengers sit, as well as any area readily accessible to the driver or passengers when they are seated in the vehicle. The exceptions to this are the locked glove compartment, the trunk, or, if the car does not have a trunk, the area behind the rearmost seat, which is not normally occupied by the driver or passengers.

The law does not apply to passengers in the passenger area of a motor vehicle designed, maintained, or used primarily for the transportation of people for compensation, such as a taxi, limousine, or bus. It also does not apply to the living quarters of a motor vehicle or house trailer.

The consequences of an open container conviction include a fine of up to $200 and two points added to your driver's license. If you accumulate 15 or more points in 24 months, your license will be suspended for one year. If you are under 21 and are convicted of possessing an open container while operating a motor vehicle, you could face a license suspension for 120 days.

There are a few exceptions to the rule against open containers. For example, party buses and limos are exempt from the law, as are the living quarters of a motor home. Additionally, home brewers may transport malt beverages made at home under certain conditions, such as securely sealing the containers and including specific information on the label.

Restaurants are also allowed to permit one unsealed bottle of wine per patron for consumption off-premises, as long as the customer has purchased a meal and consumed some of the wine. The restaurant must securely reseal the wine in a bag or container that makes it visibly apparent if the seal has been tampered with, and a dated receipt for the wine and meal must be attached. When transporting the wine by car, it must be placed in the locked glove box, locked trunk, or, if there is no trunk, in the area behind the last upright seat.

Frequently asked questions