Legislation ends archaic, anti-business restriction

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gov. Nikki Haley signed legislation yesterday officially ending South Carolina’s run as the last holdout in America to enforce a pre-prohibition ban on Election Day alcohol sales.
“We applaud Gov. Haley and state legislators for making this effort to modernize a very outdated and confusing law that no longer makes sense in today’s economy,” said DISCUS Vice President Jay Hibbard.  “These bans literally date back to an era when saloons often served as polling stations and it was common, even expected, to serve drinks for votes. Repealing the ban on Election Day sales will give adult consumers the kind of modern convenience they expect in the 21st Century – whether they’re celebrating election returns or mourning them.”
Hibbard pointed to a recent economic analysis that showed Election Day alcohol bans cost South Carolina package stores $1.1 million in revenue and the State Treasury $105,000 in tax collections.
Hibbard further noted that South Carolina became the 7th state since 2008 to pass Election Day alcohol sales.  Other states to repeal similar bans include Kentucky (2013), West Virginia (2011), Indiana (2010), Utah (2009), Idaho (2008) and Delaware (2008).
“Blue Laws are simply no longer relevant in today’s society,” Hibbard said.  “We urge legislators to look at other blue laws, such as the state’s Prohibition-era ban on Sunday alcohol sales, as another way to boost revenue and help small businesses across South Carolina.”