Current laws won’t  allow restaurants in Georgia to serve you a Bloody Mary (or a beer) with your brunch before 12:30 PM on Sundays.  (Courtesy: Georgia Restaurant Association)

HB 535, the “Brunch Bill” will return for the 2016 legislative session.

If passed the bill would let counties or municipalities adopt a resolution or ordinance allowing earlier alcohol serving times on Sundays (where it is lawful to do so) as early as 10:30 AM.  Currently the law states that alcohol cannot be served for on-site consumption before 12:30 PM on Sundays.  The bill would also let counties or municipalities adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow farm wineries to serve their wine, or the wine of other Georgia farm winery licensees, as early as 10:30 AM on Sundays for on-site consumption as well as allowing to-go sales as early as 12:30 PM.  Passage of the bill could bring in up to $25,000.00 additional revenue per location each year.

I spoke with the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brett Harrell, and he mentioned that this would not force anyone to change their serving times.  The bill would simply allow counties and municipalities to address it on their own and act in the best interest of their community.  The exact serving times could be set by ordinance and would not be mandated at the 10:30 AM proposed in the bill.

The Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) currently has a petition online that people can sign to show their support for the bill.  The GRA and legislators will hold a Twitter chat early next year to address any questions or concerns people have.  A date for that chat has not yet been set but will be announced soon.

Local brewpub owners also support this measure, as passage and adoption would allow them to pour you a pint earlier on Sundays.  The GRA was also a supporter of SB 63 The Beer Jobs Bill, as stated on their website, “The Georgia Restaurant Association supports the initiative to bring tourism, jobs and economic growth to Georgia. The Beer Jobs bill aims to bring Georgia up to speed in a fast growing industry, one that the state needs to support.”

 

GA's Brunch Bill to Return in 2016 Sessionhttps://beerguysradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Brunch-Bill.jpghttps://beerguysradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Brunch-Bill-150x150.jpgTim DennisLegislationNewsSB63Beer Jobs Bill,Brunch Bill,HB 535,SB 63HB 535, the 'Brunch Bill' will return for the 2016 legislative session. If passed the bill would let counties or municipalities adopt a resolution or ordinance allowing earlier alcohol serving times on Sundays (where it is lawful to do so) as early as 10:30 AM.  Currently the law states that alcohol cannot be served...Cold beer, hot conversations, stupid jokes.