Should Sunday beer sales be allowed in Russell County?

A public hearing is being held Saturday in Lebanon on whether to allow Sunday beer sales in Russell County.

To allow the sale, the county Board of Supervisors would have to repeal a 1945 ordinance that banned beer sales from midnight Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday, according to County Administrator Lonzo Lester.

Lester said there have been several requests from citizens and merchants to allow Sunday beer sales.

During the Sept. 7 board of supervisors meeting, county resident Jarrod Ring told the board the move would help the county and its businesses financially.

“Sundays comprise 52 days of a 365-day year. … That’s 14%, so for 14% of the year we artificially limit every restaurant, gas station, bar and grocery store in Russell County,” Ring said.

He also referred to the ordinance as a Prohibition-era law that could harm the county’s ability to attract potential businesses and residents and increase its tax base. Local stores are losing business to stores in neighboring counties, where there is no ban on selling beer on Sunday, he added.

The public hearing will be informative in nature. Lester said he doesn’t expect the board to vote Saturday on whether to repeal the ordinance. He said the council could repeal it, leave it as it is or let voters decide in a referendum.

The board meets at 9 a.m. Saturday at the county government center, 137 Highland Drive in Lebanon.

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