January 1, 2011
A new state law could cause serious complications for festivals and special events on the Grand Strand. Starting today, businesses and individuals may not be able to get beer or wine permits for those events.
The law was passed with the best of intentions. But somehow it ended up allowing only non-profit groups to get temporary beer and wine permits.
Whether it's St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest or Bike Week, beer and wine sales are a big part of many Grand Strand festivals. That law, passed by the General Assembly last spring, could put those alcohol sales in jeopardy.
The intent of the law was to make it easier for non-profit groups that hold many special events during the year, to apply for multiple beer and wine permits at one time.
Bars, restaurants, individuals, caterers... they're all left out.
Stephen Greene of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association says it could be March or later before the legislature can fix it and it'll have serious consequences for events that happen before then
State Hospitality Association Director Tom Sponseller believes the legislature will quickly change the law. In the meantime, it'll cause some headaches, he said. "Unfortunately, I would assume people that are accustomed to getting a temporary permit that are not a non-profit, it's going to be a big surprise and hopefully it can be fixed soon."
For those buying a car: there's a new law out to protect consumers like you. Now, auto dealers are required to at least 8-point type in their fine print in newspaper. Automobile TV ads are also facing new restrictions. Automakers will have to show larger disclosures continuously on the screen for five seconds.
Drugstores and grocery retailers will face new limits, in an effort to curb methamphetamine labs. Sales of over-the-counter medicines like ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine in the amount of more than 3.6 grams daily or 9 grams monthly are illegal. If someone does have to buy those types of medication, they're required to show a government ID and be cleared through a National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators database. Locally, SLED, or the State Law Enforcement Division, will monitor purchases electronically.
Also something to watch in the coming year out of Columbia: the state budget. South Carolina will be losing federal stimulus dollars this year, and economists and lawmakers are projecting anywhere from a $700 million to a $1 billion budget deficit.
The legislature will be back in session January 11th.
