Grovetown voters could change city's liquor law

Grovetown residents will have the chance to change the city's liquor ordinance, which currently prohibits restaurants and other establishments from selling by-the-drink alcohol.

City council members voted 3-2 in June to place the proposal on the ballot as a referendum during Tuesday's primary.

Passing of the referendum would allow business such as restaurants to sell distilled spirits for by-the-drink consumption only on the premises.

In other words, residents may soon be able to order a cocktail with dinner.

"As an advantage, I believe we will see a regular sit-down restaurant move into the city and possibly a motel/hotel," said Grovetown Mayor Dennis Trudeau. "I believe it will be (a good thing). Our citizens will decide on that."

Because the ordinance is fairly strict and establishments would have to abide by it, disadvantages should be very limited if any, Trudeau said.

Grovetown currently issues three drinking licenses - one for each type of beverage, distilled spirits, wine and beer. The distilled spirits license states they have to be sold in package sale only. The remaining two licenses stipulate that beverages bought must be taken off the property to be consumed.

The same ordinance was on the referendum about 15 years ago and barely missed passing, Trudeau said.

In order to pass, the ordinance must get at least one more "yes" vote than "no" votes.

"I think that with the increase in population and the change of the people here - the demographics are now a little different - I think it has a chance of passing," Trudeau said. "But you never know."