An all-out attack is taking place in our state. Special interest groups from the alcohol industry are making a full court press to substantially change alcohol regulations in our state.
HendrickLooking at trends in recent history, there have been nearly 50 pieces of legislation dealing with alcohol that have passed the General Assembly in the past decade. Some of these include the switch to the free pour of larger bottles over the “mini bottle,” higher alcohol content for craft beers, and the legalization of micro-distilleries and brew pubs. Most notably, a number of referendums have now made it possible to consume alcohol on the premises of restaurants on the Sabbath as well as allowing retail store purchases on Sunday.
In this year alone, five bills were rushed through the House of Representatives in the last days of the session and went through the Judiciary Committee without being given a subcommittee hearing. We are especially thankful to Sen. David Thomas (Greenville) for taking a stand to clean up these bills or even stop them altogether.
Here are a few bills that did become law during this past session:
– H. 3178 will now allow samplings in liquor stores to be conducted by store owners themselves and not just the distillers. If someone who has already been drinking drives to a liquor store, these tastings could push them to the point of impairment and cause problems when they drive home.
– H. 3295 now allows homeowners’ associations to get permits to sell alcohol. It also allows grocery stores that have caf?s on-site to sell beer and wine for consumption on the premises. Furthermore, the bill loosens the restraints for a restaurant or international airport to allow alcohol consumption on Sundays as long as local referendums allow it.
– H. 3249 will now permit the transportation of open containers in places other than a trunk.
These are just a handful of examples where alcohol legislation has shifted in recent years, as well as some that were adopted through in the eleventh hour this past legislative session. Next year, expect another barrage of legislation that makes alcohol easier to consume, more readily available, and easier for more liquor licenses to be issued for an extended period of time.
To fight this battle next January, contact your elected officials. If you give an inch they will take a mile, so we must quit giving them inches year after year.
– Hendrick is associate director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s office of public policy.