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With all precincts closed and results being reported in, the voters in Troup County have chosen to allow the sale and consumption of on-premises distilled spirits drinks at businesses out in rural parts of the county.

On Tuesday, voters in Troup County approved a called referendum on whether to allow mixed drink sales in the unincorporated areas of Troup County.  All three cities, LaGrange, Hogansville and West Point already allowed liquor drink sales. 

The measure was approved with 19201 (65%) YES votes to 10196 (35%) NO votes.

Previously, the county only allowed the sale of beer and wine, but the change will allow restaurants to sell the harder stuff by the drink.

Notably, the referendum is only for on-premises consumption, so liquor stores are still not allowed in unincorporated Troup County.

In July, when the Troup County Board of Commissioners voted to put the measure on the ballot, County Manager Eric Mosley said staff would need to create an ordinance for the commissioners to approve to regulate hard alcohol drink sales. He said the ordinance would likely closely mirror what is already allowed in the cities with the exception of Sunday sales.

Although Georgia voters already approved the sale of alcohol on Sunday, current county ordinance only allows the sale of beer and wine on Sunday. Since the county currently doesn’t allow liquor sales at all, a separate resolution will be required to include Sunday sales.