Aiken County Moves Closer to Ballot for Sunday Alcohol Sales

Aiken County Council gave its approval to an ordinance during a March 3 session. The measure passed 7-2. If successful through two more readings, voters in unincorporated areas will decide whether Sunday alcohol sales should be permitted.

The referendum could land on the November 3 ballot. Only those living outside city limits would cast votes on this question.

Phil Napier represents District 6. Ron Felder represents District 1. Both voted against it.

Many council members agree that the wording on the ballot question may be misleading to the public because the word Sunday is never mentioned in the text.

"I do feel like it (the ballot question) is misleading to the public. It doesn't specifically say alcohol sales on Sunday," said Napier, per the Aiken Standard. "And I'm not going to vote for it regardless because I'm a Christian and I just don't support alcohol sales on Sunday."

State law dictates specific ballot language. Voters will read: "Shall the South Carolina Department of Revenue be authorized to issue temporary permits in Aiken County 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 otherwise authorized to be licensed for consumption-on-premises sales?"

County Chairman Gary Bunker mentioned that officials can add extra information to help voters understand what they're deciding. County Attorney Brad Farrar explained the required language can't change, but the council might find ways to make the Sunday sales issue clearer to residents casting ballots.