Vote to Decide Snellville Sunday Alcohol Sales

A vote Tuesday should decide whether sales of liquor by the drink will once again be on tap in Snellville.

Tuesday's vote in Snellville should end years of debate about whether alcohol should be sold "by-the-drink" on Sundays.

"So you can go outside the city limits. . .it just doesn't make sense," said Barbara Rosselle, who supports Sunday alcohol sales.

That's the message on t-shirts, signs, even pizza boxes at the local Mellow Mushroom. The owner says the issue is about needed revenue in a slumped economy.

But members of the First Baptist Church, who have led the opposition on the matter, says the Lord's day should not be sacrificed for the bottom line.

The debate is now six years old.

In 2004, a liquor law allowing sales on Sunday passed but the city council gathered enough votes to amend the ordinance and removed Sunday sales.

Last year, council members used a state law provision they felt gave them the authority to enact Sunday sales, but a group of residents were able to get a restraining order.

The city council appealed the decision to the Georgia Supreme Court but they also decided to bring the issue back before voters, who will Tuesday help settle the issue once and for all.

If the referendum passes, alcohol sales in Snellville could begin as early as July 25.