Buying Beer In Valdosta, Ga: Sunday Laws Explained

In Valdosta, Georgia, the sale of alcohol is permitted on Sundays, but the hours differ for different types of alcohol and the places where it is sold. Packaged liquor can be sold from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Sundays, while packaged beer and wine can be sold from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Sundays, 6:00 am to 2:00 am from Monday to Friday, and 6:00 am to midnight on Saturdays. Alcoholic beverages can be served in bars and restaurants from 12:30 pm to midnight on Sundays and 10:00 am to 2:00 am from Monday to Saturday. However, there have been discussions about changing the laws regarding Sunday alcohol sales, with a vote scheduled for November 5, 2019, to decide whether to extend the hours for alcohol sales on Sundays.

In Valdosta, Georgia, you can buy beer on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in stores

If you're planning to buy beer in Valdosta, Georgia, on a Sunday, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, you can indeed purchase beer on Sundays in Valdosta, but there are specific times and places this is permitted.

It's worth mentioning that the hours for alcohol sales in bars and restaurants differ slightly. On Sundays, alcoholic beverages can be served in bars and restaurants from 12:30 p.m. to midnight. From Mondays through Saturdays, the hours extend until 2:00 a.m., starting from 10:00 a.m.

Additionally, it's important to be aware that alcohol laws can sometimes change and that local jurisdictions may have their own specific rules. For example, in 2019, there was a proposal to change the Sunday alcohol sale hours in Valdosta, allowing sales to start at 11:00 a.m. instead of 12:30 p.m. This proposal was put to a vote, and it's unclear from the sources whether it passed. Therefore, it's always a good idea to check for the most recent updates and local regulations to ensure you have the most accurate information.

Bars and restaurants can serve beer from 12:30 p.m. to midnight on Sundays

If you're looking to grab a beer in Valdosta, Georgia, on a Sunday, you're in luck! Bars and restaurants in the city can serve beer from 12:30 p.m. to midnight. So, if you're craving a cold one with your Sunday lunch or dinner, you're able to order one. Just remember that the rules for alcohol sales vary across different counties and cities in Georgia, so it's always good to check the regulations for the specific area you're in.

In Valdosta, the hours of sale for bars and restaurants are typically from 12:30 p.m. to midnight on Sundays, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Mondays through Saturdays. However, there are some exceptions to these hours. For example, on New Year's Eve, alcoholic beverages can be served until 4:00 a.m.

Additionally, the hours for alcohol sales in packaged liquor stores, gas stations, and supermarkets differ from those for bars and restaurants. In these establishments, beer and wine can be sold from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays, 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Mondays through Fridays, and 6:00 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays. Packaged liquor sales are permitted during the same hours as beer and wine sales on Sundays, Mondays, and Saturdays, but on Mondays through Saturdays, the hours are extended to 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

It's worth noting that Georgia's alcohol laws have evolved over the years. Up until 2011, alcohol sales were banned in Georgia on Sundays. However, in recent years, major changes have been made, and now customers can purchase alcohol from licensed package stores or other retail locations on Sundays. Additionally, some cities in Georgia have enacted a ""brunch bill," allowing bars and restaurants to serve alcohol starting at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays. In 2019, the Valdosta City Council gave residents the option to vote on whether to implement a similar "brunch bill" in their city, which would have allowed alcohol sales to start at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays instead of 12:30 p.m.

Some cities in Georgia have a brunch bill that allows bars and restaurants to serve alcohol from 11 a.m. on Sundays

Georgia's liquor laws can be confusing as local jurisdictions are allowed to set their own more restrictive rules. While the closing times for bars and restaurants vary by jurisdiction, the last call in Georgia is generally at 2 a.m. from Monday to Saturday and 11:30 p.m. on Sundays.

In 2018, the "brunch bill" was passed in over 45 metro Atlanta cities and counties, allowing bars and restaurants to serve alcohol from 11 a.m. on Sundays. This was a change from the previous law, which prohibited the sale of alcohol before 12:30 p.m. on Sundays. The "brunch bill" was passed in cities including Atlanta, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, College Park, and Hapeville, and counties including Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton.

In 2019, the city of Valdosta also considered passing the "brunch bill". The referendum was put on the ballot, giving residents the option to vote on extending the hours for Sunday alcohol sales. If passed, the new rules would allow alcohol sales to start at 11 a.m. on Sundays, instead of 12:30 p.m.

In 2019, Valdosta voted on whether to implement the brunch bill

In 2019, the Valdosta City Council gave residents the option to vote on whether businesses could extend their hours for Sunday alcohol sales. This was known as the "brunch bill" referendum. The bill, if passed, would allow restaurants to serve alcohol by the drink from 11 a.m. on Sundays, rather than the current law which prohibits sales until 12:30 p.m.

The council approved putting the "brunch bill" to a referendum, which was scheduled for Election Day on November 5, 2019. The referendum was not binding, but the council wanted to give the community a say in the decision. The bill was supported by college student Kory Blackshear, who said that the current law was inconvenient for those who wanted to drink at brunch and that it deterred his day a little if he had brunch plans. Other community members also believed that changing the law could bring additional revenue to the community.

The "brunch bill" was passed with a 60% vote in favour. The final step was an approved ordinance amendment by the council, which was passed by a council vote of five to one. The new law came into effect in January 2020, with restaurants like Big Nicks taking advantage of the new rules to start serving bottomless mimosas at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

The "brunch bill" was a long-awaited change for the community, and the Valdosta City Council was happy to stay true to what the community wanted. The bill only applies to restaurants that sell alcohol by the drink and have a Sunday sales permit. It does not affect other businesses, such as grocery stores or liquor stores, which still have to adhere to the original law of no alcohol sales before 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Georgia's alcohol laws vary by county and city

In general, the last call in Georgia is at 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Grocery stores, liquor stores, and other places that sell alcohol for off-premises consumption also stop Sunday alcohol sales by 11:30 p.m. Every other day of the week, they stop selling alcohol at 11:45 p.m.

From Monday through Saturday, alcohol sales in Georgia can begin as early as 8 a.m. and must end by 11:45 p.m. for gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms. On Sundays, these retailers are restricted to selling alcohol between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Bars and restaurants have slightly different rules. Some jurisdictions follow a "brunch law" that allows alcohol service to begin at 11 a.m. on Sundays, but they must still stop serving by 11:30 p.m. On other days, bars and restaurants can start selling alcohol at 9 a.m. and must stop by 2 a.m.

Individual jurisdictions can further restrict sales hours, and some counties in Georgia are "dry counties," where retail liquor sales are illegal. As of 2023, these include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also dry, except for the city of Helen. Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption but allow off-site consumption. Upson County prohibits retail alcohol sales but permits alcohol service in bars and restaurants.

In 2019, the city of Valdosta voted on whether to extend Sunday alcohol sale hours, with the "brunch bill" referendum allowing alcohol sales to start at 11 a.m. instead of 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.

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