Going To A Bar In Augusta May Not Be An Option To Bring In The New Years
If you planned on going out on New Year’s Eve to bring in the new year, with a drink, there might be one small mishap to that. As for now, Augusta bars will be closed on New Year’s Eve. Everyone might be participating in Dry January after all. Or at least for the first few hours.
Georgia only allows the sale of alcohol on Sunday between the hours of 12:30 PM and 11:30 PM provided the local government does not disapprove. And some counties, don’t allow it at all.
With New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday this year, it puts local bars in a hard place of not being able to open because of the alcohol law that is in place on Sundays.
But there could be a workaround – Commissioners are allowed to choose one Sunday where this law is lifted once a year, commissioners had already chosen Super Bowl Sunday for 2023. Commissioners are now trying to see what other counties are doing in the area and to try to see if there is another loophole to allow bars to open on New Year’s Eve.
Richmond county:
Richmond County, Georgia, packaged liquor may be sold between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, and between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Packaged beer and wine may be sold at any time except between 11:30 p.m. on Sunday and 6:00 a.m. on Monday.
Alcoholic beverages may be served in bars and restaurants until about 11:30 – 11:45.
Columbia County:
In Columbia County, Georgia, packaged liquor may be sold between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Packaged beer and wine may be sold at any time except between midnight Saturday night and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, or between 11:30 p.m. Sunday and 6:00 a.m. on Monday.
Alcoholic beverages may be served in bars and restaurants between 12:30 p.m. and Midnight on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see what the final outcome will be!
