Greenville gears up for another round over Sunday
alcohol sales
by Julie Crawshaw
Excerpt: Kneeling at the communion rail, a parishioner
hears the familiar words, “The Blood of Christ, the Cup of
Salvation” as wine is offered as part of the Holy Eucharist.
Just up the street, a pastor mounts the steps to his pulpit, pausing
for a moment to be sure the members of his congregation are giving
him their full attention, and begins a sermon on the evils of using
alcohol for any purpose whatsoever.
It’s Sunday morning in Greenville, South Carolina, the “buckle
of the Bible belt” where neither churchgoers nor non-believers
can order can order an alcoholic accompaniment to Sunday brunch.
Unless, of course, they belong to one of Greenville’s many
sports bars, country clubs or other membership-only establishments
which can serve alcoholic drinks on Sunday with impunity.
Are you for or against the sale of alcohol on Sundays? Better get
suited up and on to the playing-er, battlefield. Round two in the
drive for a referendum to make such sales legal is about to begin.
Alcohol sales in Greenville County are estimated at 10 to 15 percent
of the $500 million annual restaurant industry revenue. South Carolina
law prohinits Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants unless voters
have chosen to allow them through a local referendum. Supporters
of the drive to make Sunday alcohol sales legal at qualifying restaurants
say removing the ban will increase their business and create a new,
ongoing source of revenue for local governments from the local option
permits (LOPs) they would have to purchase at a cost of $150 per
week.
Tom Sponseller, president and CEO of the Hospitality Association
of South Carolina, the umbrella organization for the South Carolina
Hotel/Motel Association and the South Carolina Restaurant Association,
says, “Sunday through Tuesday is the least profitable time
for restaurants. Typically, in areas that do not allow alcohol,
Sunday sales at restaurants are the worst of the week. With the
sale of alcohol, Sunday moves ahead of Monday and Tuesday.”………
