Clayton goes for Sunday booze

As of Wednesday, November 7, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Clayton News Daily

JONESBORO — Clayton County voters overwhelmingly approved Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated parts of the county Tuesday.

With 38 of 60 precincts counted as of 11:30 p.m., the Sunday alcohol sales referendum was sailing to approval with 68.37 percent of the 75,566 votes cast.

Voters in six of the county’s seven cities already approved Sunday alcohol sales within their municipal limits, and Tuesday’s vote extends the privilege to those people who don’t live in an incorporated area.

The passage of the referendum means Sunday alcohol sales can begin immediately, once the results of the election are certified. The hours for alcohol sales will be restricted to 12:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.

But the decision to allow Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated parts of the county also sets the stage for Morrow to become the only pocket of the county where residents won’t be able to buy alcohol after church. Leaders in the city, which prides itself on being the commercial heart of the county, have never called for an alcohol sales referendum.