Local restaurant owners in Statesboro, Georgia spoke out against the city's alcohol control policies. [1] The restaurant owners claim that the city's ordinances restricting alcohol sales, especially on Sundays, have hindered business growth and made it difficult for restaurants to remain open. [2] A proposal was made to loosen the alcohol restrictions, but many citizens opposed it out of concern it would bring more bars downtown and change the city's image. [3] The restaurant owners believe loosening the restrictions would increase their revenue and tax receipts for the city.

1. Local Restaurant Owners Speak free. At that meeting, citizens spoke against the
Against Alcohol Control Boar proposal because of concern that bars would
come to the downtown area. “Bars coming to
By: Casey Sherwin downtown area would alter the image of
downtown Statesboro” said Billy S. Wilson, Jr.,
The on-going conflict of alcohol distribution has
long-time visitor of Statesboro.
now impaired profits for Statesboro restaurants.
“Local ordinances hinder growth in Statesboro. Many local business owners have concerns about
Local restaurants have continually struggled to how the city ordinances would affect their
keep their doors open due to the restrictions they business. Establishments such as Dingus Magee’s,
must follow,” Jeff Wohelski, General Manager of Dos Primos and Retrievers have expressed
The Millhouse Steakhouse said. concerns stating that this is harmful to the
establishments’ revenue. Wohelski also expressed
Georgia is a licensure state. This means that the
that alcohol sales in restaurants on Sundays will
Alcohol Control Board (ACB) issues licenses to
help Statesboro because of the potential increase
private sellers. This helps the state more indirectly
with tax receipts.
control the sale of alcohol. Statesboro has its own
ACB and continues to control alcohol sales to Local business owners believe this will increase
comply with what is believed to be the wishes of funding to improve and restore the downtown
many Statesboro residents. A tough question is area. Historic downtown Statesboro is beloved by
whether the students of GSU should be many residents and visitors alike.
considered citizens of the city.
In 2007, with a city council election around the
corner, a group of GSU students assembled an
effort to obtain more students to register to vote
in Statesboro. This created controversy between
Statesboro’s citizens and GSU’s population. Many
citizens believed the students didn’t have the best
interest of the city in mind, only changes in
alcohol sales.
In Statesboro, alcohol sales are prohibited in
restaurants as well as convenience and grocery
stores on Sundays. However, in Georgia, cities are
Photo Credit: Casey Sherwin
allowed to sell alcohol in restaurants on Sundays.
Millhouse employee makes drinks for a customer
These laws are designed to enforce local religious Wednesday afternoon.
traditions which frown upon the sale of alcohol
on Sundays. These limitations have made
restaurant owners cautious of doing business in
Statesboro, Ga. Proposals to aid restaurants in
distribution of food and beverage sales were voted
on in January. City Councilman Will Britt
proposed the idea to disband the Alcohol Control
Board (ACB) and create an alcohol license
category for restaurants, taverns and bars. The
proposal would make businesses more trouble-