Cheers! The state’s House of Representatives has approved a pair of bills reforming Mississippi’s liquor laws. One piece of legislation would allow liquor sales on Sunday, while the other would permit the direct shipment of alcohol to homes.
House Bill 672, authored by Rep. Brent Powell, would let elected officials in “wet” cities and counties, or ones that allow liquor sales in general, to approve an ordinance granting licensed retailers the ability to sell spirits on Sundays. Current state law prohibits Sunday sales of all sorts. Under the Brandon Republicans’ proposal, which passed on a 62-47 vote, the bill would give retailers a five-hour window between 1 and 6 p.m. to sell liquor once approved by local governments.
Another piece of legislation drafted by Powell, House Bill 669, passed on a 75-32 vote. It adds liquor as an item that can legally be shipped directly to homes, after Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill into law last year allowing the shipment of wine to residences. Under the bill, “distilled spirits,” or beverages containing more than 6% alcohol by weight, can be delivered to homes, as long as someone 21 or older shows identification when signing for the order.
Alcoholic beverages would have to be sold under a direct shipper’s permit, which would apply to distributors in and outside the state of Mississippi, with a 15.5% tax applied to each sale. Mississippians would be capped at 12 cases of liquor delivered to their homes each year.
These two measures now head to the state Senate for consideration.