Many communities vote on ‘Brunch Bill’

87 counties, cities consider earlier Sunday alcohol sales.

Local counties that held the referendum included Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth and Gwinnett.

A number of metro Atlanta communities went to the polls Tuesday to decide if local restaurants should be allowed to sell alcoholic drinks earlier on Sundays.

Senate Bill 17 — the so-called “Brunch Bill” or “Mimosa Mandate” — passed through Georgia’s legislature earlier this year, giving local governments the opportunity to call referendums on allowing Sunday drink sales to start at 11 a.m. rather than 12:30 p.m.

A total of 87 counties and cities across Georgia added such referendums to Tuesday’s ballots, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. About 30 of those communities were in the immediate metro Atlanta area.

Few results were available as of press time.

Local counties that held the referendum included Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth and Gwinnett.

Voters in the city of Peachtree Corners approved their referendum.

Other cities that held referendums include Acworth, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, College Park, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Marietta, Milton, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, South Fulton, Stone Mountain, Tucker and Union City.

Local governments can establish their own dates for earlier sales to start, should their referendums pass.

BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM Rep. Meagan Hanson, R-Brookhaven (center), watches the vote board as SB 17 passes the Georgia House. The House passed the “Brunch Bill,” allowing localities to vote on 11 a.m. Sunday alcohol sales. Peachtree Corners approved its referendum, but no other results were available at press time.