COLUMBIA, SC -- It's Thanksgiving Day and you're preparing a big holiday dinner, when you discover that you forgot to buy wine for your family and guests. If some South Carolina lawmakers get their way, you'd be out of luck trying to buy a bottle of wine or any other type of alcoholic beverage on the holiday.
A House Judiciary subcommittee approved a measure Thursday that would ban liquor stores from being open on Christmas and Thanksgiving. The bill would also end a long-standing prohibition on liquor sales on Election Day.
Many Grand Strand residents say it's a good idea. Edward Callahan of Conway called the legislation "a no-brainer."
"There are religious celebrations of various faiths, and there's no reason why people couldn't do their shopping during the week before or the day before," Callahan said.
"They're open enough times that if someone needs to get liquor, that they could," said Carol Shapses of Carolina Forest. "Holidays, absolutely not."
Some residents are concerned about drunk drivers on the holidays.
"I think it's a very good idea to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum for driving," said Phil Pfeiffer of Conway.
Republican Rep. Dennis Moss sponsored the legislation, saying liquor store employees in his district have said they don't want to work on those two holidays and didn't have to for many years. Governors routinely issued executive orders barring liquor sales on Christmas and Thanksgiving, but former Gov. Mark Sanford stopped issuing those orders several years ago.
Moss says he's also concerned about domestic violence that could result from people buying alcohol and getting drunk on those holidays.
But Myrtle Beach liquor store owner David Owens points out the law wouldn't stop liquor sales at bars and restaurants on those days.
"If you're gonna be able to go out and buy the liquor by the drink, then you should be able to be able to go out and buy a liquor bottle and go home and enjoy it just as well. What's the difference?" Owens said.
Shapses says there is a difference, because bars and restaurants provide a more controlled environment.
"They have to watch what they have to serve. Not that they always do, but for the most part, they would limit how much. At home, there's no limitation."
Owens says some of his employees might want the holidays off, but others would welcome the extra income.
"My guys, they have bills to pay every day, they have groceries to buy and car payments and rent to pay and without that income, that puts them back a few days."
Republican Rep. Thad Viers of Myrtle Beach says he expects the prohibition on Thanksgiving sales to be dropped from the bill.
The proposal now moves on to the full Judiciary Committee for debate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
