Buying Beer On Sundays In Anderson County, Sc: What's Allowed?

South Carolina's alcohol laws have a long history, with the state endorsing prohibition in 1892 and later implementing the Dispensary System of state-owned liquor stores. While there are no longer any dry counties in the state, the sale of alcohol is still prohibited at certain times and on Sundays. However, some counties and cities have been granted permission to sell beer and wine on Sundays through referendums. Anderson County is one such example, where voters supported the expansion of alcohol sales to include Sundays in restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and convenience stores. This change brings Anderson County in line with other counties in South Carolina, such as Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, and Charleston, which already permit Sunday sales of beer and wine.

Anderson County voters supported Sunday alcohol sales

In November 2018, Anderson County voters supported a referendum to allow alcohol sales on Sundays in restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and convenience stores across the county. The vote saw 59% in favour of expanding alcohol sales in restaurants and bars, and 56% in favour of sales in grocery stores and convenience stores.

The vote meant that Sunday alcohol sales would be expanded to all unincorporated areas and municipalities within Anderson County. Prior to the vote, the sale of beer, liquor, and similar beverages had long been banned in most of the county. The city of Anderson was an exception, with restaurants and bars permitted to sell alcohol on Sundays.

The referendum was supported by the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, which launched a targeted marketing campaign in favour of Sunday alcohol sales. The chamber's message touted the opportunity for "more choices, more freedom, more jobs." The vote was opposed by members of the county's evangelical community, who cited concerns about an increase in DUI cases and other alcohol-related problems.

Following the referendum, the South Carolina Department of Revenue needed several weeks to issue permits to businesses wanting to sell alcohol on Sundays. This process included updating its system to reflect that permits are available for Sunday sales, and then issuing those permits.

The approval of Sunday alcohol sales in Anderson County brought the county in line with several other counties in South Carolina that have passed similar referendums, including Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, Charleston, Darlington, Dorchester, and Georgetown.

The state Department of Revenue needs time to issue permits

Firstly, the Department of Revenue must wait for official notification of the vote from the relevant county's election commission. In the case of Anderson County, the vote to allow Sunday alcohol sales was passed by voters on Election Day. Once the Department of Revenue receives notification of the vote, they can begin the process of updating their system to reflect that permits are available for Sunday sales in the county. This step is necessary to ensure that the issuance of permits complies with the law and is accurately reflected in the Department's records.

After the system has been updated, officials can begin issuing permits to restaurants and businesses that want to sell alcohol on Sundays. This process can vary in duration, depending on factors such as the number of applications received and the complexity of each application. The Department of Revenue works to issue permits as quickly as possible, but the timetable can be variable.

The time taken to issue permits is important to ensure that businesses can legally sell alcohol on Sundays and that the sales comply with the relevant regulations. The issuance of permits helps to maintain control over the sale of alcohol and ensures that businesses are operating within the law. This process also allows for the collection of relevant taxes and fees associated with alcohol sales, which can provide additional revenue for the state or county.

The state Department of Revenue's role in issuing permits is crucial to the regulation of alcohol sales in South Carolina. The time taken to issue permits helps to ensure compliance with the law and provides a framework for businesses to operate within. While the process can take several weeks or months, it is a necessary step to ensure the legal and controlled sale of alcohol in the state.

Some restaurants in Anderson County already served alcohol on Sundays

In November 2024, Anderson County, South Carolina, approved Sunday alcohol sales in restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and convenience stores. However, this change in legislation came as no surprise to some restaurants in Anderson County, as they had already been serving alcohol on Sundays.

Before the vote, the sale of beer, liquor, and similar beverages on Sundays had been banned in most of Anderson County. However, in the city of Anderson, some restaurants and bars had the option to sell alcohol on Sundays. This meant that establishments such as J Peters Grill & Bar, with one location in the heart of downtown Anderson and another near Interstate 85 Exit 19, had already been serving alcohol on Sundays at their downtown location.

Following the vote, the owner of J Peters Grill & Bar, Jonathan Angell, expressed his excitement about being able to serve alcohol at his other location outside the city limits. He stated that they would be rolling out the same offerings as their restaurants where they had already been permitted to serve alcohol on Sundays, including martinis.

The vote to allow Sunday alcohol sales in Anderson County was supported by 59% of voters, who favored expanding alcohol sales in restaurants and bars. This decision brings Anderson County in line with several other counties in South Carolina, such as Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, and Charleston, which have also passed similar referendums to permit Sunday alcohol sales.

There are no dry counties in South Carolina

South Carolina's Sunday liquor laws vary depending on the location. While there are no dry counties in South Carolina, certain counties may enforce time restrictions for beer and wine sales in stores. For example, Pickens County does not allow sales after 2 a.m., while Charleston permits in-store beer and wine sales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In Anderson County, voters recently supported allowing restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and convenience stores to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays. However, it will take several weeks to a few months for the South Carolina Department of Revenue to issue permits to these establishments.

The retail sale of liquor is permitted from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, across the state. However, Sunday sales of liquor are banned by state law. Nonetheless, counties and cities can hold referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine. As of 2020, twelve counties in South Carolina allowed Sunday beer and wine sales, including Anderson, Richland, Georgetown, Charleston, and Beaufort.

Some cities in South Carolina, such as Columbia, Spartanburg, and Greenville, have passed laws permitting Sunday beer and wine sales. These laws give consumers more choices and freedom and promote economic growth by creating more jobs. On the other hand, some members of the county's evangelical community oppose Sunday alcohol sales, citing concerns about an increase in DUI cases and other alcohol-related issues.

Beer cannot be purchased on Christmas

In Anderson County, South Carolina, beer can be purchased on Sundays following the approval of Sunday alcohol sales. However, it is important to note that this law does not include Christmas Day.

In South Carolina, the sale of beer is prohibited on Christmas Day, making it impossible to purchase beer on December 25th throughout the state, including in Anderson County. This restriction applies to both on-premise and off-premise locations, including bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores. While some counties and cities in South Carolina have been granted permission to sell beer on Sundays through referendums, these provisions do not extend to Christmas Day.

The restriction on beer sales on Christmas Day is in line with the state's alcohol regulations, which aim to control the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. While South Carolina is not a dry state, it has specific laws governing the sale of beer and other alcoholic drinks. These regulations include restrictions on the days and hours when alcohol can be purchased, as well as the types of establishments that can sell alcohol.

The laws regarding alcohol sales in South Carolina can vary by county, and some areas have taken measures to allow certain businesses to sell alcohol on Sundays. However, Christmas Day remains an exception, and beer enthusiasts will need to plan their purchases accordingly. It is always a good idea to check the specific laws and regulations in your county or city to stay informed about the legalities of alcohol sales and consumption.

In summary, while Anderson County, South Carolina, permits the sale of beer on Sundays, this does not extend to Christmas Day. On this day, the sale of beer is prohibited throughout the state, and residents will need to plan their purchases in advance to comply with the state's alcohol regulations.

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