Aldermen Lift Sunday Beer Ban
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WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley Board of Aldermen voted May 19 to allow the sale of beer and light wine on Sundays, ending a restriction that had remained in place since beer sales were legalized in Yalobusha County following a countywide vote in 2007.
Under the ordinance approved last week, stores inside the city limits are now allowed to sell beer and light wine seven days a week between 7 a.m. and midnight.
City Attorney Daniel Martin provided an overview of the proposed amendment before the vote, explaining that Article 10 of the city’s beer and light wine ordinance had remained largely unchanged since Dec. 2, 2014. Under the previous language, beer and light wine sales were prohibited between midnight and 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday and were prohibited entirely on Sundays.”
Mayor Tommy Reynolds asked whether the change would place Water Valley more in line with surrounding communities including Coffeeville, Batesville and Oxford.
Martin said many consumers already travel to neighboring municipalities to purchase beer on Sundays.
“What we have is an issue where local consumers are going to other municipalities spending money,” Martin said.
Ward Three Alderman Grant Thompson summarized the proposal during discussion.
“So basically, we’ll be able to buy beer on Sunday?” Thompson asked.
“If you choose to, you’re not required to,” Reynolds replied jokingly.
Ward Two Alderman Demetrius Ingram argued the previous restrictions no longer reflected reality and simply pushed customers into neighboring towns.
“The city needs tax revenue,” Ingram said. “The city not selling it on Sunday is not stopping nobody from drinking. So they go into other counties getting it. So Water Valley might as well benefit from it.”
“And we need every dime we can get,” Thompson added.
Board members also discussed when the ordinance should take effect. Normally, ordinance amendments require a 30-day waiting period before becoming active, but Martin advised aldermen the board could make the change effective immediately if members determined there was an immediate governmental need.
“Let’s do it immediately,” Ingram said before making the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
Aldermen also unanimously approved a companion resolution requesting state approval allowing restaurants to serve alcohol for on-premises consumption on Sundays from 10 a.m. until midnight.
Martin explained the city had to complete two separate legal actions because restaurant alcohol sales require additional approval from the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
“That’s a resolution that we request the Department of Revenue … that we request that the hours of alcohol sales for the city of Water Valley be amended to allow sales on Sunday from 10 a.m. until midnight,” Martin said.
Martin said the city must formally petition the Mississippi Department of Revenue before restaurants can begin Sunday on-premises alcohol sales.
The vote marks the second time the current board has revisited the city’s beer ordinance since taking office last July. In July, aldermen approved another ordinance revision removing language that required customers purchasing beer in restaurants to do so “in anticipation of a meal.”
That wording had been added during ordinance revisions made in 2014 and 2015, amending the original 2007 ordinance.
