Houses passes bill allowing alcohol sales in dry counties

JACKSON — The Mississippi House has passed a bill to let mid-sized municipalities in dry counties decide if they wish to allow sales of liquor by the glass at restaurants and hotels.

Voters in municipalities with at least 5,000 people would be allowed petition for a vote on the issue. At least 20 percent of registered voters would have to sign the petitions to prompt an election.

House Ways and Means Chairman Jeff Smith says few municipalities would be affected by the bill, since few cities in Mississippi’s dry counties have at least 5,000 residents.

People in those municipalities would be able to vote on the hours when the beverages could be sold.

Mississippi already has a confusing patchwork of liquor laws.

House Bill 928 moves to the Senate.