The City of Gainesville is expected to vote on an amendment to the city’s alcoholic beverage ordinance at the next city council voting session that would allow for home delivery of alcoholic beverages.
At a City Council Work Session Thursday, Assistant City Manager Angela Sheppard unveiled the proposed amendment to the ordinance which would include several changes, such as allowing package sales beginning at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
These changes are possible due to HB 879, which was approved by the Georgia General Assembly last year.
The bill allows for the delivery of beer and wine from grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants and bars, among others. Retail package stores can deliver beer and wine, as well as distilled spirits.
Businesses that are licensed alcohol retailers are not required to obtain an additional license to deliver alcohol under this bill, however, there are several other conditions. One example is alcoholic beverages can only be sold for delivery on a day and time when the sale of package beer, wine or distilled spirits is permitted by local law.
If approved, the amendment to Gainesville’s alcoholic beverage ordinance would also allow for samples at package stores, but samples can only be provided by a representative or salesperson of a manufacturer or wholesaler in an area not open to the public, according to Sheppard.
Several changes would also be applied to patios and the consumption of alcohol on approved patios through this amendment.
Package stores that are licensed to sell growlers would be allowed to have patios through the amendment. An exemption would be allowed for outside consumption of alcohol for restaurants that have an approved patio, as long as those outdoor activities are contained within the patio.
Lastly, the amendment would remove the requirement that patios may only be accessed through the main premises. According to Sheppard, this change would allow for outdoor patio seating in the front entrances of restaurants.
The Gainesville City Council will vote on the amendment at the city council voting session on Feb. 2, 2021. If approved, the amendment will go into effect immediately.
