Lilburn Will Likely Discuss Putting Sunday Alcohol Sales on November Ballot

Chong An, owner of the Lilburn Bottle Shop on Indian Trail Road, says he got into the liquor-store business 22 years ago so he didn’t have to work seven days a week.

Six work days — with Sunday off because alcohol sales are not allowed in Georgia stores — is a whole lot better.

But with the possibility that Sunday alcohol sales may be legalized by the end of the year, An has a dilemma.

If Gov. Nathan Deal signs, as expected, legislation that would allow local voters to decide if they want Sunday sales in their municipalities, the City of Lilburn could add the measure to the ballot for November’s citywide election.

A simple majority of yes votes could allow for beer, wine and liquor to be sold in stores in the city limits.

“Personally, I don’t like that. I like my one day off,” An said Thursday. “If that is passed, we will have to open I guess. There are other liquor stores in the city, and [if they open] I have to open because I can’t lose the business. And I have to be here because I’m a small business and can’t afford to hire someone.”

Two other Lilburn store owners did not want to talk about the issue Thursday, with one saying, “I really don’t have a position one way or the other.”

So far, there is no indication that the City of Lilburn wants to add liquor sales to the ballot, but City Manager Bill Johnsa said Wednesday that the City Council would likely discuss it in the near future.

“The short answer is yes, they will probably discuss it,” he said, adding that no decision on a referendum would be made without public input and a cost-benefit analysis. “We’ll certainly look at it, I can assure you.”

Loganville has already approved a Sunday-sales referendum, and several other municipalities around Metro Atlanta also are considering it.

Lilburn could add the measure to the Nov. 8 ballot without additional cost because elections for mayor and two council seats are already scheduled. For those living in unincorporated Lilburn, a Sunday-sales vote would have to be scheduled by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. So far, there are no county-wide measures up for vote.

Lilburn Mayor Diana Preston said via email Wednesday night, “I haven’t polled the Council members; however it would seem to make sense that if we’re going to have an election, we would allow the citizens to vote yes or no on the issue.”

Lilburn’s Downtown Development Authority went on record in its Wednesday night meeting that it would support a referendum for Sunday sales.

“I think if we’re going to grow in Lilburn, we probably should do it,” DDA member Helen Morriss said.

Fellow member Elmer Nash added jokingly, “If they don’t turn out for the mayor’s race, maybe they’ll turn out for liquor.”