Buying Beer On Sundays In Augusta, Georgia: Know The Timing!

Alcohol sales laws in Georgia can be confusing, as local jurisdictions are allowed to set their own more restrictive rules. In Augusta, Georgia, the laws around alcohol sales have been changing in recent years. In 2021, Augusta commissioners voted to allow grocery, convenience, and liquor stores to start selling alcohol at 11 am on Sundays, rather than having to wait until 12:30 pm. This change aligned with the existing “brunch bill, which allowed restaurants to serve alcohol starting at 11 am on Sundays. However, bars in Augusta are still not allowed to be open on Sundays, except for one Sunday a year, which is usually Super Bowl Sunday.

Sunday alcohol sales hours in Augusta, GA

Alcohol sales laws in Georgia can be confusing as local jurisdictions are allowed to set their own more restrictive rules. In Augusta, Georgia, the situation is no different.

In Augusta, Georgia, the sale of alcohol on Sundays is allowed between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. This applies to grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, and other retailers that sell alcohol for off-premises consumption. Prior to March 2021, these establishments had to wait until 12:30 p.m. before selling alcohol on Sundays. However, thanks to a vote by Augusta commissioners, the rules were changed to allow these stores to start selling an hour and a half earlier, aligning with the hours for on-premises consumption in restaurants.

On-Premises Consumption in Restaurants

In Augusta, restaurants have been able to sell alcohol on Sundays starting at 11:00 a.m. under the "`brunch bill.`" This bill allows alcohol service to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays, with the last call by 11:30 p.m. This is an exception to the usual hours for on-premises consumption in bars and restaurants, which is typically 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. from Monday to Saturday.

Dry Counties and Special Occasions

It is important to note that there are some dry counties in Georgia, such as Coweta, Dodge, Franklin, Decatur, and Murray, where the retail sale of liquor is not allowed at all. Additionally, many counties in Georgia prohibit all alcohol sales on certain holidays like Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day. On the other hand, bars and restaurants are permitted to sell alcohol until 2:30 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve, July 3rd, and 4th, and the Sunday before Memorial and Labor Day.

Future Changes

As of January 2024, Augusta commissioners were discussing the future of alcohol sales for holidays that fall on a Sunday. The current practice is to choose one Sunday holiday a year when bars that don't serve food can be open. There is a proposal to change this allowance to Cinco de Mayo instead of Super Bowl Sunday, and to let voters decide whether to add all holidays to the alcohol license.

'Brunch bill' in Augusta, GA

The Brunch Bill, or Senate Bill 17, in Augusta, GA, allows restaurants and hotels with restaurants to serve alcohol earlier on Sundays. This bill was passed in 2018, and it gives communities in Georgia the option to roll back Sunday on-premise consumption sales hours from 12:30 pm to 11:00 am.

The bill was supported by the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA), which worked with lawmakers for over four years to make it happen. The bill allows restaurants and hotels that make at least 50% of their money from food to serve alcohol with meals starting at 11:00 am on Sundays. This change is intended to boost business and enhance the guest experience, especially for those who enjoy a drink with their brunch.

The implementation of the Brunch Bill in Augusta and other areas in Georgia, including Grovetown, Richmond County, and Columbia County, has been well-received by both businesses and customers. Business owners report increased sales and smoother operations, as customers no longer need to wait until 12:30 pm to order alcoholic drinks. Additionally, businesses hope that the earlier alcohol sales will attract more customers and improve their average check amounts for brunch.

It's important to note that the Brunch Bill does not apply to all types of alcohol sales in Augusta, GA. Grocery stores, liquor stores, and other retailers selling alcohol for off-premises consumption still need to wait until 12:30 pm on Sundays to start selling alcohol. This distinction highlights the difference between on-premise and off-premise alcohol sales regulations in the area.

Dry counties in Georgia

In Augusta, Georgia, the sale of alcohol on Sundays was previously prohibited until a \"brunch bill\" was passed, allowing restaurants to serve alcohol from 11 am onwards. In March 2021, Augusta commissioners voted to extend this rule to grocery, convenience, and liquor stores, allowing them to start selling alcohol at 11 am on Sundays instead of having to wait until 12:30 pm.

Georgia has always had a complicated relationship with alcohol, and there are still some surprising laws in place. One such law is that you cannot buy alcohol within 100 yards of any church or within 200 yards of a school.

Additionally, there are several "dry counties" in Georgia, where retail liquor sales are illegal. 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, but the city of Helen allows alcohol sales. Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption in places like bars and restaurants, but off-site consumption is permitted. Upson County, on the other hand, prohibits retail alcohol sales but permits alcohol service in bars and restaurants.

Alcohol sales on holidays in Augusta, GA

Alcohol sales laws in Georgia allow local jurisdictions to set their own rules, which can be confusing for consumers. In Augusta, Georgia, the laws around alcohol sales on Sundays and holidays are in flux, as commissioners debate the issue. Here is what we know so far about alcohol sales on holidays in Augusta, GA:

Sunday Alcohol Sales in Augusta, GA:

Until recently, grocery stores, convenience stores, and liquor stores in Augusta were not permitted to sell alcohol on Sundays until 12:30 pm. However, in 2021, commissioners approved a change to the alcohol ordinance, allowing these stores to start selling alcohol at 11 am, just like restaurants. This change was made in the name of "free enterprise," and it brings Augusta's rules more in line with those of the rest of Georgia.

Holiday Alcohol Sales in Augusta, GA:

The laws around holiday alcohol sales in Augusta are a bit more complex. Currently, commissioners choose one Sunday holiday per year when bars that don't serve food are allowed to be open. In 2023, Augusta commissioners chose Super Bowl Sunday as that holiday. However, this meant that bars were closed on New Year's Eve, which is the biggest alcohol sales night of the year. As a result, some commissioners are pushing to change the holiday alcohol sales rules.

Proposed Changes to Holiday Alcohol Sales:

Commissioner Sean Frantom has proposed that the Sunday alcohol sales allowance be moved from Super Bowl Sunday to Cinco de Mayo. He also wants voters to decide whether to add all holidays to alcohol licenses starting in 2025. These changes are supported by downtown bar owners, who believe that limiting alcohol sales on holidays hurts their business.

Open Container Laws in Georgia:

It is important to note that while Georgia has an open container policy that allows people to stroll along in public areas with a drink in hand, there are strict regulations around this. Alcohol consumption in motor vehicles is prohibited, and open containers are not allowed in the passenger area of a vehicle.

Dry Counties in Georgia:

It is also worth mentioning that there are still several "dry counties" in Georgia, where retail liquor sales are illegal. These include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties.

Buying alcohol in Georgia – hours, locations, and taxes

Hours

In Georgia, the hours during which alcohol can be purchased vary by jurisdiction. However, state law sets the earliest and latest times that alcohol can be sold. From Monday to Saturday, alcohol sales can begin at 8 a.m. at the earliest and must end by 11:45 p.m. for gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms. On Sundays, these off-premises retailers can only sell alcohol between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Bars and restaurants have slightly different rules. Some jurisdictions have a "brunch law" that allows bars and restaurants to begin serving alcohol at 11 a.m. on Sundays. On other days of the week, they can start selling alcohol at 9 a.m. and must stop by 2 a.m.

Locations

In Georgia, distilled spirits can only be purchased at licensed package stores. On the other hand, beer and wine can be purchased at convenience and grocery stores.

Certain counties in Georgia are "dry counties", meaning that retail liquor sales are illegal. As of 2023, the dry counties in Georgia include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also a dry county, 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.

Taxes

Alcoholic beverages in Georgia are subject to excise taxes on both the state and federal levels. Excise taxes are applied per unit, generally per gallon for liquids, and are collected from the merchant who sells the alcohol. These taxes are usually passed on to the consumer in the form of raised alcohol prices.

• Malt Beverage (Standard case of 24 twelve-ounce containers): $1.08 per case ($0.045 per can) + Uniform local beer tax of $1.20 per case ($0.05 per can)
• Table Wines (14% or less alcohol by volume): $0.11 per liter for wine manufactured in Georgia, and $0.40 per liter for wine manufactured outside Georgia
• Dessert Wines (More than 14% but not more than 21% alcohol by volume): $0.27 per liter for wine manufactured in Georgia, and $0.67 per liter for wine manufactured outside Georgia
• Fortified Wines (Wines fortified with distilled spirits, resulting in an alcohol content of more than 21%): Taxed as distilled spirits; some localities also collect a local tax of up to $0.22 per liter
• Distilled Spirits (Less than 190 proof): $0.50 per liter for spirits manufactured in Georgia, and $1 per liter for spirits manufactured outside Georgia
• Alcohol (Any product over 190 proof): $0.70 per liter for alcohol manufactured in Georgia, and $1.40 per liter for alcohol manufactured outside Georgia; some localities also collect a local tax of up to $0.22 per liter

In addition to the excise taxes, Georgia's general sales tax of 4% also applies to the purchase of wine, beer, and liquor.

Frequently asked questions