Friday, May 4, 2012
The new law takes effect Sunday for unincorporated areas. Will it change your habits?
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, May 4, 2012
Retailers in unincorporated areas of Suwanee will be able to sell packaged alcohol on Sunday, May 6, and Sundays thereafter. The Gwinnett commissioners in April amended the county's alcohol-sales ordinance to move up the effective date. Gwinnett residents approved Sunday sales in a referendum in March. Originally, June 1 was the effective start date. Sales are allowed from 12:30-11:30 p.m., though stores can set their own hours within that window. —How will this change your alcohol buying habits? Tell us in comments below. Suwanee and several other cities in Gwinnett have been allowing Sunday sales since last year. Commissioners also established fees for retailers: a $500 annual fee for a retailer selling both beer and wine on Sundays, and…
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Starting date is now May 1.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Updated 8:37 a.m., April 18 Retailers in unincorporated areas of Suwanee and Gwinnett County will be able to sell packaged alcohol on Sunday, May 6, and Sundays thereafter. The Gwinnett commissioners Tuesday amended the county's alcohol-sales ordinance to move up the effective date. Gwinnett residents approved Sunday sales in a referendum in March. Originally, June 1 was the effective start date. —How will this change your alcohol buying habits? Tell us in comments below. Commissioners also established fees for retailers: a $500 annual fee for a retailer selling both beer and wine on Sundays, and $250 for a retailer selling one of those items. Don’t miss any Suwanee news. Subscribe to Suwanee Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook …
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
About 67 percent of voters approve the measure that already is allowed by some cities in the county.
- ELECTIONS
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
As expected, Gwinnett County voters Tuesday approved allowing retailers to sell packaged alcohol on Sundays. The vote was an overwhelming 67.6 percent for approval -- 48,721 to 22,625. So beginning Sunday, June 3, retailers in unincorporated areas of the county will be able to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption, from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Several cities in the county approved the measure last November.
Some revenue and volume figures show an increase over a year ago.
It hasn't exactly revolutionized commerce inside the city limits, but Sunday alcohol sales have contributed to an uptick in business since they took effect in November. City revenue figures and data from one package store owner show increases from a year ago, though officials are quick to point out that these can't solely be attributed to the ability to buy packaged alcohol on Sunday. City Of Suwanee excise tax revenue figures are as follows: November 2010: $62,335 December 2010: $85,097 January 2011: $41,286 November 2011: $64,920 December 2011: $91,875 January 2012: $43,271 Amie Sakmar, the city's director of financial planning, noted that city leaders never expected a financial windfall. They changed the ordinance as a matter of …
Monday, February 13, 2012
Also, voters now can cast ballots for Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated areas of the county. The official primary date is March 6.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, February 13, 2012
Advance voting will begin Monday, Feb. 13, in Gwinnett County for Georgia's presidential primary. The official primary date is March 6, also known as Super Tuesday. The early voting will conclude on Friday, March 2, according to a Gwinnett County news release. Voting will be at the Elections Office, 455 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Also, voters can cast ballots to allow Sunday packaged alcohol sales in unincorporated areas of Gwinnett County. Voting will also take place on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Elections Office and at satellite locations from Feb. 27 to March 2. Visit www.gwinnettelections.com for locations. Voters can request an absentee ballot for the general election through March 2…
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Shoppers line up at the 12:30 p.m. kickoff -- some even before.
Updated 12:50 p.m, Nov. 20, 2011 "This is the longest minute of my life," Suwanee resident Steve Sadoti said at Kroger on Sunday afternoon. Sadoti had a beer purchase in his shopping basket, and he was waiting for 12:30 p.m. to officially roll around -- and more importantly, for the store's computers to recognize it. "I can't override it," a Kroger worker said. "Restricted," the machine told Sadoti on the first two scans. The third run through the scanner worked, and Sadoti could complete his purchase. And so Suwanee, like many other cities in Georgia, began a new era Sunday, one that allows packaged alcohol sales from 12:30-11:30 p.m. Some shoppers actually came through shortly after 12 p.m. to take advantage, but were unaware that they …
Friday, November 18, 2011
City Council follows through on recent public approval of referendum.
Suwanee, you can make a beer run Sunday, but you'll have a small window before the 1 p.m. NFL games start. City Council unanimously approved Thursday a change in the city's alcohol ordinance that will allow for Sunday alcohol sales for off-premises consumption. The vote was a formality based on the results of this month's referendum, which was approved by roughly 75 percent of the city's voters. Retailers are ready. A Kroger spokesman said this week that the store at 400 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (at Suwanee Dam Road) will be selling alcohol Sunday. And a spokeswoman for Beverage Superstore on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road said it will be open for business and selling Sunday. A store has to be in the city limits for it to be affected by …
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Nash expects voters to approve the measure.
Voters will get a chance March 6 to approve Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated areas of Gwinnett County. Following several other cities in the county, Gwinnett commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved allowing a public referendum on the new Georgia law that allows municipalities to determine whether packaged alcohol can be sold by retailers on Sunday. District 1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter, whose district includes Suwanee, missed the vote because of illness. This would apply to retailers in unincorporated areas of the county, where a large majority of Gwinnett's 805,000 residents live. Per state law, sales would be allowed from 12:30-11:30 p.m. on Sunday. "Based on what has happened elsewhere in the state, I expect it will pass…
Monday, November 14, 2011
Chairman scheduled to present spending plan Tuesday.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, November 14, 2011
The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners is scheduled to get a look at the county's proposed 2012 spending plan Tuesday. The county began budget review in September with a $30 million revenue shortfall, but news reports say that an almost-balanced budget will be presented. Also, commissioners Tuesday will consider approving a public refendum on Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated areas of the county. Voters in several Gwinnett cities recently approved Sunday sales in their areas, but that only applies within city limits. The current county budget is about $1.3 billion (operating and capital). That does not include the Gwinnett school system, which sets its own budget. Last year, the county approved a budget that had an $18 million revenue …
Thursday, November 10, 2011
City Council is scheduled to amend ordinance in the wake of Tuesday's vote.
In case you're wondering when you'll be able to buy alcohol on Sunday at a store in Suwanee -- think next week. Suwanee's city manager said Thursday that the City Council will vote on Thursday, Nov. 17, at a called meeting to amend the city's alcohol ordinance. After that, it formally will be legal for retailers in the city limits to sell packaged alcohol for off-premises consumption. So alcohol could be available for purchase as soon as Sunday, Nov. 20. Suwanee voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum Tuesday that will allow the council to amend the ordinance. Georgia's new state law gives municipalities the option of allowing voter approval on Sunday alcohol sales. Gwinnett County has not taken action yet, so retailers in …
