Ohio bill aims to relax Sunday liquor sales
Bill ends local option elections; voters could still make precincts dry.
All bars, restaurants and liquor stores would be able to sell alcohol on Sundays just as they do any other day of theweek if a new bill passes that was recently introduced in the Ohio Legislature.
The “Sunday Alcohol, Liquor, and Especially Spirits (SALES) Act,” House Bill 783, would “eliminate provisions of law governing local option elections for such Sunday sales,” according to a summary posted on the Ohio General Assembly’s web site.
The proposal was introduced last week by State Rep. John Becker, R-Union Twp. in Clermont County, and State Rep. Anthony DeVitis, R-Green in Summit County. A Democrat, Rep. Dan Ramos of Lorain, is one of the four co-sponsors.
Becker told this news outlet in a phone interview that he introduced the bill in part to help a constituent who is gearing up to open a restaurant in his district east of Cincinnati and was unaware the new establishment would not be allowed to serve alcohol on Sunday until passing a local liquor option on a precinct ballot.
Currently, many liquor, beer or
continued from A1 wine license-holders must get voters in their neighborhoods to approve a local liquor option to allow them sell and serve alcohol on Sundays. These “local option” ballot issues show up on precinct ballots throughout the state every election.
Becker said Ohio Division of Liquor Control officials told him the Sunday restrictions were put in place after Prohibition was repealed.
His proposal will not affect the ability of a precinct’s voters to ban alcohol sales altogether and make theirs a “dry precinct,” he said, but would eliminate what he said was the hassle and expense of the “local option” elections and of treating Sunday alcohol sales differently from every other day of the week.
Martin Gehres, assistant city attorney for Dayton said the city doesn’t have a position on the bill one way or another but said it would essentially take control away from voters.
“Its always concerning when you take away local control,” Gehres said.
The sponsors face long odds the proposed legislation will pass during this legislative term. The 132nd Ohio General Assembly is wrapping up its work in the coming days. Becker said there is a chance the proposal could be attached to an existing bill.
“The chances are slim, but it’s always possible,” he said.
The C ler mont County legislator said he has every intention of re-introducing the bill next year if it is not passed during this term.
A spokeswoman for the Ohio Division of Liquor Control said division officials are aware of the proposal and “will work to uphold any changes the legislature decides to enact.”
Increased access to alco- hol poses a risk to Ohioans though, according to a recent report from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Institute spokesman Nick Wiselogel declined to comment directly on the SALES Act but the HPIO’s report states greater access to alcohol boosts the chances of excessive alcohol use and addiction.
Ohio has had 10 policy changes in the last five years that made alcohol more accessible, the HPIO report states. The Centers for Disease Control rates Ohio’s tax rates for alcohol as “weak” and experts believe a higher tax on alcohol would go a long way to prevent abuse, according to HPIO.
Though the institute warns about more access to alcohol, some local bars and restaurants would welcome the change to Sunday liquor laws.
Tank’s Bar & Grill on Wayne Avenue in Dayton serves brunch on Sundays but can’t serve bloody marys, said manager Jana Maggard. Tank’s is able to serve mimosas with low-proof champagne but Maggard said often families will come in with University of Dayton students and will leave if they can’t have their favorite breakfast-time cocktail.
“That would be a great idea and it would help business,” Maggard said. “We don’t do a lot of liquor but the bloody marys would help on Sunday mornings.”