Department of Revenue suggested change to help small businesses

Jon Dennis, manager of Lake Murray Liquors, began reminding customers earlier this week that the store would be open on July Fourth -- just in case they missed the hastily scrawled sign announcing the news on their way in.

For the first time in decades, liquor stores in South Carolina will be allowed to stay open on July Fourth.

Last week, Gov. Mark Sanford let the S.C. Department of Revenue make the decision after the agency suggested it as a way to help small businesses, said Danny Brazell, a spokesman for the department.

State law gives governors power "in the interest of law and order or public morals and decorum" to close liquor stores. Governors routinely use it on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day and July Fourth.

The governor's decision is a "balancing act" between protecting small businesses and properly observing religious holidays in South Carolina, said Sanford spokesman Will Folks.

"It's pretty clear he would continue to use his power to close (liquor stores) on Thanksgiving and Christmas," Folks said.

Some store owners and managers across the state said they would not miss the chance to make Fourth of July sales.

"It's the smart thing to do," said Russell Parker, owner of Captain T's Wine and Spirits in Myrtle Beach.

"I don't want any customer to come here tomorrow and find that I'm not open and go down the street and find another place that's open," Parker said. "They might not come back."

Many liquor stores in Columbia, however, will remain closed.

"To change our schedule at this point would be really difficult," said Suzie Riga of Green's Liquors on Assembly Street. "Most of our competitors are going to be closed."

Clyde Byrdic, owner of two Clyde's Spirits and Fine Wines stores in West Columbia, said he found out too late to change plans.

Byrdic found out Monday about the option to stay open on July Fourth.

He said that at this point, his customers don't expect his stores to be open.

"I've had a sign up in my window for three weeks saying I'm going to be closed," he said.

Byrdic said that with earlier notice, he could have scheduled workers and let customers know he would be open.

Brazell said that a memo was sent out to store owners and operators June 27 announcing the change but that not everyone might have received one.

"We apologize to the shop owners who didn't have enough time to plan," he said.

Some organizations do not consider the change positive.

"We're opposed to the sale of liquor any day of the year," said Carlisle Driggers, executive director of the S.C. Baptist Convention.

For S.C. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, it brings safety concerns.

"Most definitely, it will probably increase the risk of more fatalities on the roadways," said director Donna Carter of Florence.

She said she is not critical of Sanford or legal alcohol sales but worries about crashes tied to drinking.

Sanford delegated the decision on the issue to Burnet Maybank, his Revenue Department director. Maybank said he doubts highway safety will be jeopardized. He said he does not see a strong correlation between retail liquor purchases and DUIs.

Maybank said he did not expect a spike in liquor sales as a result of allowing the July Fourth sales and said it probably will be a revenue wash.

The change comes as the state Highway Patrol is conducting a July Fourth drunken-driving crackdown dubbed "Sober or Slammer."

Department of Public Safety spokesman Sid Gaulden said the policy change makes no difference for the "Sober or Slammer" campaign.

"Drinking and driving is against the law," he said. "We're going to be out there."