Going To A Bar In Augusta May Not Be An Option To Bring In The New Years
If you planned on going out on New Year’s Eve to bring in the new year, with a drink, there might be one small mishap to that. As for now, Augusta bars will be closed on New Year’s Eve. Everyone might be participating in Dry January after all. Or at least for the first few hours.
Georgia only allows the sale of alcohol on Sunday between the hours of 12:30 PM and 11:30 PM provided the local government does not disapprove. And some counties, don’t allow it at all.
With New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday this year, it puts local bars in a hard place of not being able to open because of the alcohol law that is in place on Sundays.
But there could be a workaround – Commissioners are allowed to choose one Sunday where this law is lifted once a year, commissioners had already chosen Super Bowl Sunday for 2023. Commissioners are now trying to see what other counties are doing in the area and to try to see if there is another loophole to allow bars to open on New Year’s Eve.
Richmond county:
Richmond County, Georgia, packaged liquor may be sold between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, and between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Packaged beer and wine may be sold at any time except between 11:30 p.m. on Sunday and 6:00 a.m. on Monday.
Alcoholic beverages may be served in bars and restaurants until about 11:30 – 11:45.
Columbia County:
In Columbia County, Georgia, packaged liquor may be sold between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Packaged beer and wine may be sold at any time except between midnight Saturday night and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, or between 11:30 p.m. Sunday and 6:00 a.m. on Monday.
Alcoholic beverages may be served in bars and restaurants between 12:30 p.m. and Midnight on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see what the final outcome will be!
Ranking The 4 Best Hard Seltzers
Since Memorial Day I have been fortunate enough to attend a wedding, beachside barbeques, and neighborhood get-togethers. Though food options varied, I did notice hard seltzers were a common beverage. There were multiple brands, so I decided to rank the ones that I tried.
Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer can be credited as the first official can to hit the shelves in 2013. Or you can go back to Zima as being a pioneer in this carbonated alcohol space. Nowadays, it seems like every brand has their own variation of spiked seltzer. With limited creativity in terms of flavor options (most people would prefer a simple pineapple flavor to a green apple, cherry, celery mashup any time), now certain beverage companies are swapping out the vodka mix for tequila. Furthermore, funny commercials and vibrant cans allow different marketing angles on seemingly similar drinks.
Speaking of marketing, a thinner can is often associated with containing a lower-calorie drink. A CNN op-ed speculates that most hard seltzers are displayed in these taller, skinny cans to distinguish themselves in a crowded liquor store.
My Methodology
In creating this ranking of the best hard seltzers, there were certain criteria that I considered to be most important. Taste is a broad category. It was imperative here that the drink was smooth, did not contain a syrupy aftertaste and actually tasked like the flavor it suggests. Then, I looked at the overall “nutrition” facts. Finally, I’d ask myself a question: “Would I drink another one, or would I buy a case of this repeatedly?”
It’s important to note that I disqualified top beer brands. While I applaud their efforts for the attempt at entering the hip space, I have yet to find one where their best product was not actually their beer. Lastly, I am not a big fruit juice person. Nor do I typically like citrus mixed with alcohol. In this case, however, there are four hard seltzers where I find the fruit flavor enjoyable. My top choice here is now a brand that I do keep stocked in my cooler.
Darasha Singleton is a native of Augusta, Georgia who serves as the Digital Content Coordinator at Beasley Media Group. If you think there is nothing to do in Augusta, check her posts! You're sure to find something to do. Aside from work, Darasha enjoys going to the Saturday Market on the River and any local festivals.
