Sunday Beer and Wine Approved!!

Ottawa voters SHOUT "Say Yes to Sunday"

Culminating the largest initiative petition drive in Ottawa County history, voters in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 election overwhelmingly approved repealing the countyŐs Sunday beer and wine ban.

More than 67 percent of the voters cast NO votes on the question of whether the Sunday sales of beer and wine should be prohibited. Supporters gathered at New Holland Brewery Tuesday night to celebrate the end of a grueling 6-month campaign.

Just getting to the ballot required the Say Yes to Sunday Committee to collect 42,800 signatures on more than 4,000 petition sheets.

The unofficial vote totals are:
(WITH 125 OF 125 PRECINCTS COUNTED)

  • YES.................... 43,722 32.57
  • NO..................... 90,501 67.43
  • Total.................. 134,223

The Say Yes to Sunday Committee thanks the 400 volunteer circulators who passed the petitions that garnered the necessary signatures to repeal the ordinance. The committee announced plans to petition the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners to repeal the last remaining Sunday ban.

The Sunday beer and wine repeal won in the election will take effect when the election is certified by the Ottawa County Board of Canvassers. The certification is expected in time to allow Sunday sales to proceed on November 23 in most parts of the county. Overturning the county ban does not negate more restrictive city or township ordinances.

The Mayor of Holland, Al McGeehan, has announced the city will take-up repealing its beer and wine ban later this month.

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About the Committee

Who is the Say Yes to Sunday Committee?

The Say Yes to Sunday Committee was formed by local business leaders in Grand Haven, Holland, Jenison and Spring Lake and the area convention and visitors bureaus of Grand Haven and Holland to collect sufficient signatures to place the question of permitting Ottawa County Sunday beer and wine sales on the November 4 election ballot. Sunday sales of spirits by the glass have been allowed since 1981. The committee needs 38,000 valid signatures by August 12 to qualify for the ballot. It has established a goal of collecting 50,000 to cover any signatures that may be disallowed by the Ottawa County Clerk.

The members of the committee are:

Pat Eldean, SYS treasurer Proprietor,
The Piper, Macatawa		 Tim Riley, General Manager
The Kirby House, Grand Haven
Jim Kaminski,
Modern Beverage Holland 		 Caralyn DeVito, Proprietor 
Main Street Pub, Allendale
Brett VanderKamp, President 
New Holland Brewing Co.		 Marci Cisneros, Executive Director
Grand Haven Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Scott Screptock, Proprietor
Northside Liquor 		 Sally Laukitis, Executive Director,
Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Bob Byars, Proprietor
King’s Cover Party Store, Holland		 Steve Vink, Proprietor  
Tip A Few, Grand Haven
Lori Varner
Suburban Inns- Holland, Grandville, Midland.		 Melissa Brolick, Proprietor
Old Boys Brewhouse, Spring Lake
Kathy Huizenga, Proprietor
Anchor Party Store & Performance Engineering
Holland and Jenison		 Phil Hoffman
Century Lanes, Holland

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can I support the committee?
You can support by donating through ChipIn or Google Checkout, by purchasing merchandise, posting yard signs, wearing buttons, educating your peers, and Contacting Us to volunteer.

ChipIn is a secure online tool for non-profit organizations to easily accept donations using a Paypal account. Please support the cause.

What is this issue all about?
Since 1981, Ottawa County residents have been allowed to purchase liquor by the glass, but forbidden from purchasing beer and wine on Sunday. This dates to a 1976 referendum that banned beer and wine Sunday sales. This year’s ballot proposal would allow licensed establishments to sell beer and wine on Sunday.

How will it appear on the ballot?
The proposal reads as follows:
“Shall the sale of beer and wine on Sunday between the hours of 2 a.m. and 12 midnight prohibited?

So, if I want to vote to repeal the beer and wine ban, how do I vote?
You must vote NO to end the beer and wine ban. By voting No, you are stating “NO”, you do not want to prohibit beer and wine sales on Sunday.

Why is the language confusing? Shouldn’t I be able to vote yes for beer and wine sales?
The wording on the ballot is dictated by the Michigan liquor control code. Neither the county clerk nor the Say Yes to Sunday (SYS) Committee had any choice in how to present the wording. If you vote YES, you’ll be voting to keep the current Sunday beer and wine sales ban.

How many other counties in Michigan ban beer and wine sales on Sunday?
Ottawa County is the last of Michigan’s 83 counties that ban Sunday beer and wine sales.

Why is it important to repeal the Sunday beer and wine ban?
The long Michigan recession has placed many hospitality industry businesses and the jobs they provide at risk. According to the Michigan Restaurant Association, nearly 10% of Ottawa County’s economic activity can be traced to the hospitality industry. Hundreds of residents leave Ottawa County on Sunday to purchases beer and wine products – harming our local businesses and making it more difficult to attract visitors on Sunday, despite the county’s many attractions.

If the repeal passes, when will I be able to purchase beer and on Sunday?
Both Ottawa County officials and the SYS Committee’s attorney have issued informal opinions stating the repeal will take effect when the November 4 election results are certified by the Board of Canvassers. As a practical matter, that means the first Sunday available for beer and wine purchase is likely to be November 23.

How many businesses in Ottawa County are licensed to sell beer and wine?
There are approximately 220 retail licenses issued in Ottawa County.

If Ottawa County voters VOTE NO and the repeal takes effect, will beer and wine only be available at restaurants and bars?
No, if the Sunday ban is repealed ALL licensees, both those with take-out licenses and those who serve beer and wine by the glass will be permitted to sell beer and wine on Sunday.

When I get my election ballot, where do I cast my vote?
All proposals in the November election are on the back of the ballot. The Sunday beer and wine repeal is in the third column on the ballot.

If the ban is repealed, will Sunday beer and wine sales automatically be available throughout the county?
No. Ottawa County has some townships and cities with local ordinances that prohibit Sunday beer and wine sales. These ordinances will require separate action by either township boards or city councils in those specific instances.

How can I help repeal the ban?
There are many ways:
• First, be sure to vote NO either by absentee ballot or at the November 4 general election.
• Second, volunteer to place yard signs or to do a literature drop
• Third, sign-up for our email list to send out pre-election messages
• Fourth, donate to help spread the word either through our website or by purchasing a pledge card at one of our member establishments.