Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Troup County Board of Commissioners took the next steps to allow the sale of liquor drinks in unincorporated areas of the county on Tuesday.

A change to Chapter 6 of the Troup County Code of Ordinances was required to allow the sale and consumption of on-premises distilled spirits by the drink after it was approved by the voters in November.

Troup County Community Development Director Jenny Parmer said the updated ordinance will primarily add liquor to the options where beer and wine are already sold by the drink.

“We made some changes in the definition to allow that language for the distilled spirits in the places that it would be poured out be allowed to be poured,” Parmer said. “We changed it from the sale of malt beverages and wine for consumption on-premises to the sale of alcoholic beverages. Since alcoholic beverages will include all three, malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits.”

The other significant change will allow caterers to pour distilled spirits at events. They will still have to go through the licensing process as an alcoholic beverage caterer. If previously, they could pour wine and malt beverages. Now they can add distilled spirits to the menu, Parmer said.

Establishments that want to obtain a license will still have to go through the licensing process for both the county and the State of Georgia.

Parmer explained that there will be a separate license that businesses will have to apply for even if they already have a license to pour beer and wine.

The second part of the amendment will change the fees for alcoholic beverage permits. 

Parmer said staff surveyed surrounding jurisdictions that were similar to Troup County in size and demographics to see what they charge. Based on that, she recommended $2,000 for licensing for the pouring of distilled spirits along with a $300 fee for the application review, the same as it is currently for beer or wine.

During the review, staff discovered that their wine licensing fee, currently at $200, was significantly lower than surrounding jurisdictions. Parmer recommended increasing the fee to $400 to be more in line with surrounding counties. She said staff believe the fee was set over 20 years ago.

The amendments were unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners. 

The changes will take effect starting Jan. 1, 2025.