A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 61-6-4160, RELATING TO THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS ON CERTAIN DAYS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS ON SUNDAY MAY BE AUTHORIZED BY REFERENDUM.
Summary
H3452 amends South Carolina’s liquor-control law to allow Sunday sales of alcoholic liquors only if local voters approve the change by referendum. Under the bill, the Department of Revenue could issue Sunday-sales permits to licensed retail dealers in a county or municipality after a majority of voters approve the permit question at a referendum. The bill sets out the petition process to trigger a referendum, allows county or municipal governing bodies to call one by ordinance, and specifies that referendums are generally held at a general election and may not occur more often than once every 48 months.
The bill also establishes the administrative framework for Sunday-sales permits, including a $100 nonrefundable application fee and a $3,000 annual permit fee, with the revenue distributed to the local government where the retailer is located. It preserves existing prohibitions on Sunday liquor sales unless authorized by law, and it keeps the misdemeanor penalties for violations of the section. The act would take effect upon approval by the Governor.
Impact
If enacted, H3452 would modify Section 61-6-4160 of the South Carolina Code to create a local-option system for Sunday liquor sales. It would not legalize Sunday sales statewide; instead, it would allow counties and municipalities to opt in through referendum, with the Department of Revenue authorized to issue permits only in jurisdictions that approve the measure. The bill would affect retail liquor dealers, county and municipal election commissions, the Department of Revenue, and local governments that would administer and fund referendums and receive permit-fee revenue.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text, the measure appears designed as a compromise approach: it preserves the general Sunday prohibition while giving local voters the option to authorize sales. The structure suggests an effort to balance alcohol-retail expansion with local control and community preference.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be whether Sunday liquor sales should be decided locally at all, and if so, whether the referendum process is the right mechanism. Potential opponents may object to expanded alcohol availability, while supporters may favor local choice, business flexibility, and additional permit-fee revenue. The bill also creates procedural issues that could draw scrutiny, including petition thresholds, election timing, the 48-month limit on repeat referendums, and how mixed county/municipal boundaries are handled for permits.