Town council votes 5-1 to approve sale of alcohol on Sundays; matter still has to be approved by the Legislature
Citing lost revenue, the Flomaton Town Council voted 5-1 Monday night to approve an ordinance to ask the Alabama Legislature to pass a bill to allow alcohol sales within the town limits on Sundays.
Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., said he got the idea from Atmore Mayor Jim Staff, noting that Atmore had its Sunday alcohol sales approved about six months ago.
“I'm trying to help with our finances,” Bondurant said.
Bondurant said, like Atmore, residents were leaving the city on Sundays to purchase beer just across the state line in Florida.
“Even though I disagree with it, I'd rather them buy it over here,” Bondurant said.
Mayor Bondurant and council members Buster Crapps, Jim Johnson, Lillian Dean and Charlie Reardon voted yes. Councilman Roger Adkinson voted no.
Under the ordinance passed Monday, stores in Flomaton would be allowed to sell alcohol beginning at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Currently, no alcohol is legally allowed to sold on Sundays in Flomaton, but is legal in Century.
Mayor Staff said the businesses in Atmore are very pleased with being allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays.
“Everybody was going into Florida to buy beer,” Staff said. “Piggly Wiggly (in Florida across the state line) had people lined up at 1 p.m. on Sundays to buy beer. The shelves were empty by 3 p.m. We were giving them their revenue.”
He said Flomaton was in the same situation being located right on the state line. Unlike other areas of Escambia County, Fla., that limit the sale of alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and after 1 p.m. on Sundays, Century businesses can sell alcohol 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Staff said Atmore went with the 10 a.m. start under what he called the 'brunch law' passed by the Legislature that has been approved in multiple cities across the state. He said currently there are no restaurants open in Atmore on Sundays that normally sell alcohol, but noted if a restaurant such as Ruby Tuesday's or Applebee's comes in the matter is already solved.
Staff said he has talked to several convenient store owners in Atmore and all have said their business has picked up since Sunday alcohol sales were approved.
“The grocery stores have benefited the most,” Staff said. “And that tax money stays in Atmore instead of going a few hundred yards away in Florida.”
Before Sunday alcohol sales can begin in Flomaton, a local bill will have to be passed by the Alabama Legislature, which won't go into session until March, 2019.
State Rep. Alan Baker also said the fact that the Flomaton Town Council didn't unanimously pass the ordinance may throw up a stumbling block.
Rep. Baker said in most cases involving local bills the legislative delegations want unanimous support from either the municipal council or the county commission before the bill progresses through the process. Escambia County's legislative delegation includes Rep. Baker, Rep. Mike Jones and State Sen. Greg Albritton.
“It becomes more difficult if it's not unanimous at the local level,” Baker said. “It doesn't mean local legislation can't move forward but without unanimous support from the council it throws out a stumbling block.”
“We try not to get involved with local issues,” Baker added. “A unanimous vote makes it cleaner on the state level.”
