(Myrtle Beach-AP) July 21, 2003 - Sunday beer and wine sales have started in convenience stores on the Grand Strand. A handful of stores in Horry and Georgetown Counties started sales Sunday.

The Revenue Department mailed permits last week to stores seeking to sell beer and wine on Sundays. More than 100 stores are expected to be added next weekend.

Mike Armstead of Newark, New Jersey, who picked up a six-pack at a convenience store in Murrells Inlet on Sunday, says, since people can buy beer any other day, they should be able to do so on Sundays. He says he should be able to have a beer in his hotel on Sundays.

The state ruled in June that convenience stores and groceries in more than a dozen counties could sell beer and wine on Sundays, because they had approved referenda since 1993 authorizing the Sunday sale in restaurants and bars.

Thirteen Aiken convenience and grocery stores began selling beer and win on Sundays on June 29th.

Richland and Lexington Counties both passed referenda before 1993 specifically for restaurants and bars, so they aren't a part of the group. To sell off-premise, Richland and Lexington would need a new referendum allowing the off-premise sales.

posted 7:38am by Chris Rees