Increased fees for sale of beer and wine are now in effect

The cost of a license for retailers who sell beer, wine and other fermented beverages in Walker County increased on Monday, Sept. 1 (Labor Day).

Commissioner Bebe Heiskell signed into law a resolution to amend the county’s fee schedule during her Thursday, Aug. 28, business meeting. It was the meeting’s only agenda item.

Heiskell said current licenses expire on the last day of August and wanted to have the increase in place when business owners apply for or renew their license.

As the licenses are not pro-rated, the new fees will affect all who intend to sell beer, malt beverages or wine.

“This is the first increase since the fees were set in the 1970s,” Heiskell said.

Each license fee will cost $100 more than in the past, but only the fees — nothing else — will change with adoption of the resolution.

During the May 20 primary election, voters said “yes” to a referendum concerning the sale of mixed drinks/ distilled spirits in the unincorporated areas of Walker County.

A similar referendum is on the November general election ballot and will have voters answer “yes” or “no” to the question: “Are you in favor of Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages in unincorporated Walker County?”

That upcoming referendum has no bearing on the adoption of a new license structure. Any business that wants to sell alcoholic beverages must meet set requirements before a license is granted.

For example, restaurants wanting to sell such libations by the drink for consumption on sites must report at least 70 percent of gross sales from food and no more than 30 percent from alcoholic beverages.