Toccoa Sets Up Sunday Sales Parameters

Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink for on-site consumption is now officially in place in the city of Toccoa.

On Monday, the Toccoa City Commission unanimously adopted changes to the city’s Alcohol Beverage Control ordinance to allow for Sunday alcohol sales for on-site consumption and waived the second reading, meaning the changes take effect immediately.

Back in November, city of Toccoa voters approved Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink for on-site consumption by a vote of 221-198.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said the ordinance lays out all of the ground rules for an establishment that wishes to sell alcohol by the drink for on-site consumption on Sundays.

“This ordinance, among other things, determines hours of operation,” said Morse. “That will be from 12:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.”

It also sets standards for eligibility to sell on Sundays.

“Any establishment that derives, one, 50 percent of its annual gross sales from prepared food or meals or, two, any licensed establishment that derives at least 50 percent of its annual derived gross income from the rental of rooms for overnight lodging,” said Morse.

According to city officials, any restaurant selling alcohol on Sundays must meet the 50 percent standard for all food sales throughout the week, not just on Sundays.

Officials said that is a tougher standard then the 30 percent gross sales from food that exists for those not selling on Sundays.

In addition, Morse said that any establishment wishing to sell on Sundays must pay an extra fee for the privilege to do so.

“The annual license fee will be $500,” said Morse. “If they were to apply after June 30, that fee would be pro-rated at $250.”

City officials said that for an establishment to sell alcohol on Sundays, it must already have an approved ABC license with the city of Toccoa for the rest of the week.

With the ordinance changes for Sunday sales now in effect, officials said that a business which has an approved ABC license and meets the Sunday requirements laid out in the ordinance can now pay the fee to the city as early as today and be eligible to begin serving on Sundays as soon as this weekend.

In a related item from Monday’s meeting, Toccoa City Commissioners unanimously approved the submitted ABC license renewals for calendar year 2016.