H.Y.P.: Hartsville Alcohol Sales Referendum
The Hartsville Young Professionals group created a fact page on their website, www.hartsvilleyp.org, to urge voters to vote yes on the upcoming referendum question.
What’s on the ballot
Voters registered in the City Limits of Hartsville will see the following local option question on their ballots:
“Shall the South Carolina Department of Revenue be authorized to issue temporary permits in this City of Hartsville, South Carolina for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours to allow the possession, sale, and consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink to bona fide nonprofit organizations and business establishments authorized to be license for consumption-on-premises sales and to allow the sale of beer and wine at permitted off-premises locations without regard to the days or hours of sales?”
☐ Yes
☐ No
Source: SCVotes.org
What does this mean in simple terms?
The alcohol sales referendum allows for the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday in restaurants and most stores; it is not applicable to liquor stores.
What will change?
This resolution would allow restaurants and retail stores located in the City Limits of Hartsville to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays if they wish to do so. Currently, they cannot.
What won’t change?
• Businesses won’t have to open on Sunday if they don’t want to, nor do they have to sell alcohol. Those are choices business owners can make themselves.
• This won’t change the laws that govern liquor stores; they are regulated by a different set of state laws that this resolution will not change.
• The resolution won’t change the laws for businesses outside of the City Limits of Hartsville. The County Council would have to move to approve a ballot initiative that would apply to other areas of Darlington County.
• The resolution won’t change the laws that govern who can purchase and consume alcohol. Customers still have to be 21 years of age to purchase alcohol any day of the week.
Is this for temporary or event permits?
Think of it this way: all alcohol sales licenses are temporary and have to be renewed regularly by the business. The key is the change in the wording regarding when. Currently, permits are only issued allowing Monday through Saturday sales of alcohol. This allows them to be issued for any day of the week.
What does this mean for Hartsville?
• Economic benefits f.
• Residents and visitors currently leave town to purchase alcohol on Sundays, have brunch, and to watch sporting events.
• Voting “Yes” drives tourism.
• A “Yes” vote supports local businesses and hospitality and tourism tax revenue by bringing in others from outside the area.
• Visitors often stay in nearby towns; we want them to stay local. The potential revenue for hotels, restaurants, and retail could really make a difference.
• A “Yes” vote encourages consumers to stay in Hartsville, helps create jobs, and keeps our dollars local.