A look back: Voters say 'yes' to Sunday alcohol sales

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Manninglive.com will be looking at the Top 15 stories of 2016, with a few updates here and there as available, over the next few days. More than 7,100 Clarendon County voters said "yes" at the polls Nov. 8 to allow for the sale of alcohol - beer and wine, that is - at both restaurants and stores on Sundays. About 4,300 residents voted no to the measure, which had been allowed on the ballot after several meetings by Clarendon County Council over the summer. The measure was championed by several local business groups, and was supported by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, whose board members held that Sunday sales would allow for more business opportunities in the region. The passing allows restaurants with a current alcohol license to apply with the Department of Revenue either for an extension for a Sunday license, or to convert their existing license into one which allows the sale of alcohol for seven days a week. Clarendon County Administrator David Epperson said during the process that the sale of alcohol on Sunday was not mandatory for businesses. For example, Turbeville has a town ordinance that forbids the sale of alcohol within town limits, period. Ultimately, Piggly Wiggly became the first business to sell on Sundays, doing so the second weekend in December.