Judges strike over-the-counter alcohol sales on Sunday

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The state Department of Revenue announced last summer that a June 2000 vote to allow Sunday beer and wine restaurant sales in Greenville, along with similar referendums statewide, included alcohol sold in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Several area businesses applied for permits to sell alcohol on Sundays, but Greenville city officials appealed the revenue department's decision. In the ruling announced Wednesday, the judges said Greenville voters went to the polls only to decide restaurants sales.

"It's a good ruling for the life of the community, and it's a good ruling for families," said Rev. Caesar Richburg, pastor at Allen Temple AME Church.

Richburg was one of several area ministers who spoke out against allowing Sunday beer and wine sales. They said increasing the opportunity to buy alcohol caused harm to families.

Reaction of Greenville residents Wednesday was mixed.

Shannon Cleveland, who voted for the referendum four years ago, said the decision will slow the city's transition to a thriving metropolitan area.

"If you look at large cities," he said, "they allow it."

Jennifer Edgar said she supports the judges' decision. "If you can buy it six days a week, that should be fine enough," she said.

Kella Such grew up in Greenwood, which still enforces blue laws. She said it still seems odd to see people buying beer and wine in Greenville restaurants on Sundays. But people should be able to purchase alcohol in stores if they can do it in restaurants, she said.

"It's not fair to let one group do it and another not," she said.

After the revenue department's ruling last summer, the state Legislature created a law requiring cities and counties to specify that Sunday sales referendums were for restaurants, stores or both.

The earliest voters could petition for a new referendum for Sunday sales in stores would be November 2005 in the city and November 2006 in the county, said Conway Belangia, Greenville County Election Commission director.

Cleveland said he would vote for the expanded sales.

"If Greenville wants to grow, it needs to do this," Cleveland said.

The state first allowed the sale of beer and wine on Sundays in 1993, but only in counties or cities where residents voted to allow it.

Each city and county's vote include specific wording from the state that couldn't be altered.

After reviewing the wording, the revenue department ruled last summer the referendums allowing beer and wine to be sold in restaurants also applied to stores.

Piedmont Petroleum, Bi-Lo, Publix and Wal-Mart requested permits in Greenville, but the city appealed. The businesses then requested that the state Administrative Law Division hear the case.

The revenue department asked for the full panel of six judges to decide the Greenville appeal because the ruling could apply statewide. It was the first time the entire panel had been asked to settle a case in its 10-year history. It took the judges almost five months to decide after a February hearing in Columbia.

Danny Brazell, revenue department spokesman, said the agency is reviewing the ruling to see how it will affect other cities and counties.

Greenville was the only city to protest. The state has been issuing licenses for Sunday alcohol sales in stores in the seven other cities that allow such sales in restaurants.

John Boyanoski covers the city of Greenville. He can be reached at 298-4065.