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Lumpkin voters OK liquor sales; Jackson says no
Jackson County parks vote also headed for defeat
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Lumpkin County voters approved a liquor-by-the-drink referendum on Tuesday, but a Sunday liquor sales referendum in Jackson County appeared headed for defeat.

With all precincts reporting in Lumpkin County, 3,727 voters supported the referendum, while 2,363 voted no.

In Jackson County, with 13 of 16 precincts reporting, 4,070 voters opposed Sunday sales, while 3,049 voted yes.

A $15 million bond vote to build parks is also losing in Jackson, with 3,669 voting no and 3,378 voting yes.

In Lumpkin County, the vote allows businesses outside Dahlonega city limits yet within Lumpkin County to sell liquor by the drink for onsite consumption.

Presently, only bars and restaurants within Dahlonega city limits are permitted to sell distilled spirits by the drink. Bars and restaurants operating in Lumpkin County outside Dahlonega city limits are currently able to serve only wine and beer.

Several Lumpkin County residents voiced approval of the liquor referendum while voting in advance at the polls last week. Some residents said they voted to approve the liquor-by-the-drink referendum in hopes it would attract more fine dining establishments to the area.

But according to Kimberly Pruitt, supervisor of elections and registrar for Lumpkin County, many local churches staunchly disapprove of countywide liquor sales.