Savannah OKs Sunday beer

Jan. 7– Savannah merchants can begin selling beer on Sundays as of Jan. 23.

Thursday, the Savannah City Commission unanimously approved on third and final reading an ordinance overturning the Bible Belt custom prohibiting the sale of package beer on the Christian Sabbath.

The new rule brings Savannah in line with Hardin County, Crump and Adamsville, all of which have long allowed Sunday beer sales and collected the accompanying tax revenues.

Around 20 local residents attended last night’s meeting to oppose the measure, which city officials framed as a revenue issue. They presented–but then took back–a petition reportedly containing about 300 signatures gathered in two days from like-minded individuals seeking to keep Savannah dry on Sundays.

First to speak, resident Bud Young was quick to attempt to establish the issue as one of morality.

"I think you’re robbing God of his day. You can’t be proud of what you’ve done," agreed James Clarke, a former member of the Hardin County Commission.

Resident Linda Gamble was likewise displeased.

"We would have thought you would have looked over the names on that list. I would have thought you would have listened to your constituents," she said.

Commissioner Michael Davis, who made the motion to allow Sunday beer sales, allowed a little wiggle room.

If replacement revenue can be found at a later date, the city commission will revisit the issue, he stated in his motion.

Savannah City Manager Garry Welch is roughly estimating annual additional tax revenues of $50,000 for the city through Sunday beer sales.

Commissioners say the new money can be applied to construction of a city "Sports-Plex" being considered for Northwood Drive on the former Huey Black property.

(Read more on this story in the next print edition of The Courier.)