Florence voters to decide on Sunday alcohol sales

FLORENCE — Florence City Council has introduced an ordinance that would let Florence voters decide whether to lift a ban on Sunday alcohol sales at licensed restaurants in the city.

First reading of the ordinance, which would place a referendum on this November’s ballot, passed 5-2 in a special called meeting Thursday. Mayor Frank Willis and councilman Rick Woodard cast the dissenting votes.

On July 14, Florence City Council directed city staff to prepare an ordinance for a referendum that would allow Sunday alcohol sales at licensed restaurants. The measure would not apply to packaged alcohol sales.

Lake City City Council is considering a similar ordinance that also passed first reading Thursday.

Sunday alcohol sales are against state law, but cities and counties can approve and pass a referendum to change the law.

Florence’s proposed referendum was requested by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Hospitality Association of South Carolina.

In a letter to Florence Mayor Frank Willis and Florence City Council members, the chamber wrote that Rock Hill, Lexington and Santee recently accepted similar legislation.

“When I was a kid, my dad said, ‘If Billy jumped off a bridge, would you jump off a bridge?’” said Florence resident Jim Symons, speaking Thursday against the ordinance.

Symons said a study in the American Journal of Public Health showed that lifting a ban of Sunday alcohol sales in New Mexico increased alcohol-related crashes.

Thomas Sponseller, hospitality association president, told council last month that allowing restaurants to sell alcohol on Sundays would increase sales by $650,000 a month.

Symons, however, argued that Sunday alcohol sales would lead to higher costs in police protection and emergency responders, as well as in lives.

Mike Alexander, president of the Florence Hotel/Motel Association, said proponents are asking council only to give city residents a chance to vote on the issue.

Florence City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed referendum at its next regular meeting, to be held at 1 p.m. Monday.