Sunday alcohol sales underway

Ryant said the revenue came solely from bar sales. She’s confident future Sundays will bring in even more as more people learn they can buy alcohol on Sundays.

“I think it’s going to keep a lot of people in town,” Ryant said.

Orangeburg County voters approved a referendum in November allowing Sunday alcohol sales in the county. About 63 percent of voters approved the change. Sales started earlier this month.

Restaurants, bars, hotels, gas stations and grocery stores countywide now have the ability to sell beer and wine on Sundays. Restaurants, bars and hotels can also seek additional permits to sell liquor by the drink.

The sale of hard liquor on Sunday via “red dot” stores remains illegal. Hard liquor is regulated under a separate state law and is not affected by the referendum.

Tony DeAloia, manager of Ruby Tuesday, has been pushing for Sunday sales in the county for several years now.

When the vote passed in the county, DeAloia said, “I was ecstatic.”

He’s grateful Orangeburg County Council members placed the decision in the hands of the citizens and offered them a vote. Ruby Tuesday begins its Sunday sales this weekend.

“It’ll definitely increase our business on Sundays,” DeAloia said. He added, “I won’t have people walking out.”

Businesses can seek the seven-day off-premise beer and wine permit, which allows establishments to sell beer and wine for off-premise consumption seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day.

Also available is the seven-day, on-premise beer and wine permit, which allows establishments to sell beer and wine on Sunday from midnight to 2 a.m., and then from 10 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. for on-premise consumption.

The Local Option Permit, which allows the sale of liquor on Sundays, includes a prerequisite requiring establishments to have a current valid business liquor by the drink or non-profit liquor by the drink license in good standing.

A 52-week permit costs a non-refundable $3,050. A weekly permit is available for $200, which is refunded if the application is denied.

To find out more about the different types of licenses available, visit dor.sc.gov/tax/abl.