No longer do we have to drive across the border into North Carolina if we need to pick up a six-pack for a party, or a bottle of wine for a dinner. This rarity was obtained just about a mile from my house at a Publix store.
The lifting of blue laws is only valid within the city limits since the city had relaxed the blue laws regarding the sale of spirits in restaurants. The Greenville news has more info…
Recent changes in state law allow grocers to sell beer and wine on Sundays, as long as they have the proper permit, according to Adrienne Fairwell, a spokeswoman at the state Department of Revenue.
It’s been legal to for the city’s bars and restaurants sell alcohol on Sundays since voters approved a referendum in June 2000. But the wording of the referendum left unclear whether it also applied to grocers and convenience stores.
GreenvilleOnline.com -Local News-City grocers allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays – (12/10/2006)
Notice that the article says "grocers and convenience stores." Nothing is said of ABC stores. If I run out of gin on a Sunday afternoon, I’m stuck.
Of course, the county, which is much more conservative than the city, failed to pass a similar referendum in 1999. Therefore, when Laura went to shop at her regular Publix, she couldn’t buy any alcohol. I had to make a special trip. The wine was my only target, and I felt weird getting it. I almost asked a stock boy if it was true, but decided just to go for it. If it wasn’t true, then I’d just look like one of those dumb tourists who picks up a bottle thinking South Carolina is more progressive than that. Well, maybe not all of South Carolina, but at least Greenville is showing signs that the blue laws truly are on the way out.