ADVOCACY IS THE BACKBONE OF THE ABC STORES OF SC
Advocacy and Representation
The association serves as a strong advocate for retailers at both the state and local levels, ensuring that your interests are represented in legislative and regulatory matters. This can be crucial for staying ahead of policy changes that could impact your business.
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2025 Legislative Session Recap
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Alcohol Delivery/Curbside Delivery H.3857 was introduced by the Chairman of House Judiciary Committee (Weston Newton, R-Beaufort) with dozens of other bill sponsors. The House has passed some version of alcohol delivery legislation since 2021. Historically the House has been more apt to loosen alcohol restrictions. The last 4 years, the delivery & curbside legislation have been combined and also include liquor/beer/wine. DoorDash, Total Wine and the SC Retail Association (big box retailers) have been the major drivers behind this legislation. We expect the House to move this legislation quickly when they come back in January of 2026. The major objections to this have historically been in the Senate, however, there are 13 newly elected Senators, so education and outreach is key to stopping this legislation. Sunday Sales of Liquor H.4001 was introduced that would allow local governments to hold referendums related to the sale of liquor from retail stores on Sundays. The House passed similar legislation last session but was blocked by Senators on the floor. We anticipate that the House will take up this legislation early when they come back in January. Diageo is the lone stakeholder pushing this legislation. Sunday sales typically has broad support in the House, but faces a more difficult landscape in the Senate. RTD sales With the rise of popularity of the RTDs in the industry, we have anticipated the big box retailers and the convenience stores to push for RTDs to be sold in the grocery and convenience space. However, no legislation has been introduced. Education and outreach by ABC Stores will be critical in protecting the sale of RTDs in the market. |
2024 Legislative Session Recap
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Celebrating a Legislative Win: No Sunday Sales and No Alcohol Delivery Bills for 2024
It’s official – victory is ours! In a hard-fought battle, we’ve secured a legislative win for the ABC Stores of South Carolina in 2024. Thanks to your support and collaboration, we successfully defended against the Sunday Sales Bill and the Alcohol Delivery Bill for this year. Though it was touch and go for a moment, our steadfast lobbyist alongside several key retailers, kept ensuring our interests were protected at all times.
This triumph underscores the critical importance of advocacy and the power of our collective voice. It provides a platform for those who may otherwise be overlooked and educates the public about industry issues that often remain misunderstood. Advocacy not only safeguards our rights but also strengthens our association, uniting us in purpose and action.
Crucially, advocacy engages policymakers, shaping legislation that directly impacts our day-to-day operations. This proactive approach enabled us to effectively oppose the legislation of these two bills this year.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate our achievement!
Looking ahead, we must remain vigilant. While this victory is significant, its success hinges on continued enforcement, public awareness efforts, and ongoing evaluation. As our society evolves, so too must our approach to alcohol regulation. We’ll be discussing strategies for the 2025 legislative session at our fall membership meeting on October 8th in Columbia, SC – mark your calendars!
In conclusion, this legislative win of 2024 marks a milestone in our ongoing advocacy efforts. It underscores the importance of maintaining open communication with legislators and standing united as one voice for our association. As we move forward, let’s continue engaging in constructive dialogue to address the complexities of alcohol regulation in our industry. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEMBERSHIP?
Contact Hannah Lorance, Executive Director at (803) 339-1682
LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES
How to Find Your Legislators
Use the link below to find your current Senators and Representatives in both the South Carolina State Legislature and the U.S. Congress.
To search, simply enter your address information in the form provided below and click the ‘Find Legislators’ button to see your representatives.
Various South Carolina Legislative Links
- South Carolina Legislature Home Page
- South Carolina Legislature
- Provides comprehensive access to legislative information, including bills, legislators, committees, and session calendars.
- Find Your Legislators
- Legislator Search
- Allows you to find your current Senators and Representatives in both the S.C. State Legislature and the U.S. Congress.
- South Carolina General Assembly Bills and Resolutions
- Bills and Resolutions
- Search for and track bills and resolutions currently under consideration by the South Carolina General Assembly.
- South Carolina Legislative Calendar
- Legislative Calendar
- Access the schedule and calendar of legislative sessions, including key dates and deadlines.
- South Carolina Legislative Committees
- Committees
- Information on the various committees within the South Carolina Legislature, including membership and meeting schedules.
- South Carolina Code of Laws
- Code of Laws
- Browse and search the South Carolina Code of Laws, organized by title and chapter.
- South Carolina Senate
- South Carolina Senate
- Information on the South Carolina Senate, including members, leadership, and session details.
- South Carolina House of Representatives
- South Carolina House
- Information on the South Carolina House of Representatives, including members, leadership, and session details.
Contact Us
Contact us today with any questions you may have.
ABC Stores of South Carolina
P.O. Box 2836
Summerville, SC 29484
Office Phone: (803) 339-1682
Email: ABCstoresofsc@gmail.com
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