For the second meeting in a row, the Smyrna city council passed an ordinance loosening restrictions on alcohol consumption.
Earlier in November the council added three new zones where patrons can consume alcoholic beverages outdoors (provided the drink is purchased on site), and expanded the original downtown zone. This time around the council formally approved a vote of city residents to allow alcohol sales at restaurants beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Previously, alcohol sales began at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.
The council vote of 6-0, with Ron Fennel absent, was a mere formality. The issue was on the ballot during midterms, and city residents overwhelmingly said yes to the so-called “mimosa bill.” Fully 76.44 percent (17,170 voters) said yes, compared to just 23.56 percent (5,292 votes) who were opposed.
“For whatever reason, Smyrna had the highest approval of any Cobb city,” said Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon. “I don’t know what that means, but it’s pretty clear. And we had great turnout too.”
While Smyrna was particularly enthusiastic, that’s not to say the measure was unpopular elsewhere. More than 45 metro Atlanta cities and counties approved the measure, further eroding the “blue laws” which had kept Sunday alcohol sales illegal in Georgia for decades. No metro city or county turned down the earlier sales.
Sunday alcohol sales at 11 a.m. begin immediately, with Sunday, Nov. 25 the first affected date in Smyrna.