Dry New Year’s Eve brings boos from Augusta bar owners

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta bar owners are frustrated over the money they’ll be losing on one of their biggest nights of the year.

They won’t be able to sell alcohol on New Year’s Eve because it’s a Sunday.

The state of Georgia only allows sales on one Sunday per year, and local leaders can vote if there are multiple Sundays in consideration.

Augusta leaders chose Super Bowl Sunday, and now they’re stuck with that decision.

About 20 bar owners showed up at Tuesday’s meeting of the Augusta Commission to protest the decision.

Clifton Thomas, the owner of Cliffisms Sports & Spirits, said it would be a great loss.

“At least between $5,000 and $10,000, because that is a major night,” he said.

Adrian Estrada, owner of The Loft Augusta, said: “We are destinations for people without families, for people who are from Fort Eisenhower, and other places that come out to celebrate.”

It’s also taking affect to businesses nearby the bars.

“People love to go out, grab something to eat, then head out to the bars. Now? They’re going to go to Columbia, they’re going to go to Atlanta, they’re going to go somewhere else. But they’re not going to go downtown,” said Emanuel Hatzis, owner of Manny’s Off Broad.

They’ve been going strong for 17 months in downtown Augusta.

While they’re not affected on New Years Eve since they have a license to serve food and alcohol, the night ends early on December 31 with bars not able to stay open.

“We were really hoping that we could bank on that. I mean, that’s a lot of money for them, but that’s also a lot of money for everyone else downtown. Yeah, just loss of revenue, a couple thousand. Easily,” said Hatzis.

But one business has a workaround.

Jim Christian, manager for Savannah River Brewing Company, said: “First of all, it’s a drag. There’s no doubt about it, it’s an antiquated law. Under the law we’re a manufacturing space with a retail presence, and because of that. We’ve always been allowed to be open on Sundays. And we will for New Years Eve.”

In 2017, despite the law, Augusta actually managed to have bars open on both New Year’s and Super Bowl Sunday.

Augusta Planning and Development says this happened simply by a lack of enforcement.

The city’s legal office says there’s no workaround for the previous vote.

“We’re the bad guys,” Commissioner Sean Frantom exclaimed in frustration over not being able to reverse the call.

Estrada said: “This year if we can not open, it’s on your hands. Because somebody neglected to have a calendar, and look and take in consideration, and have bar owners present.”

Commissioners have already made a motion to address this issue as soon as the new year starts, but the city’s legal staff says the solution needs either state intervention or a county-wide election for people to weigh in.

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