Sand Mountain Reporter

A bill that would allow draft beer sales in three local towns has gone to the governor.

The House on Thursday passed Sen. Hinton Mitchem’s bill to legalize draft beer sales in Albertville, Guntersville and Arab. It would become law with Gov. Bob Riley’s signature.

Even if Riley signs the bill, it would be up to each city to determine if it wants draft beer sales. The Albertville and Guntersville councils have passed resolutions endorsing the measure.

The Senate passed the bill 19-0 last week with Mitchem, D-Union Grove, voting yes.

Reps. Frank McDaniel, D-Albertville, and Jeff McLaughlin, D-Guntersville, voted yes when the House passed the measure 27-9.

“I’m extremely happy that this bill has now passed the Senate and the House,” Albertville Mayor Lindsey Lyons said Friday.

Albertville’s council passed the first resolution for draft beer sales. Management of Santa Fe Cattle Co. told city officials they would like to sell draft beer at their restaurant, which opened on U.S. 431 North in the fall.

Lyons has said he thinks having draft beer might be an enticement for more national restaurants to locate in Albertville.

Guntersville Mayor Bob Hembree said he thinks draft beer sales might enhance tourism, one of the city’s biggest industries.

Marshall County as a whole remains dry. The three cities have gone wet in the last 25 years.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

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