The Carrollton City Council voted Wednesday to amend the city’s code of ordinances to allow for Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink, effectively giving approval for restaurants within the city limits to begin selling cocktails this Sunday.

The council’s decision Wednesday comes after voters approved a referendum on Nov. 3 that authorized the council to allow Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink in restaurants. The measure passed handily with more than 58 percent approval – 1,233 votes to 833.

“This has been decided. It was voted on, and it was overwhelming,” said Carrollton Mayor Wayne Garner. “The electorate has done this.”

Beginning this Sunday, restaurants in the city that meet a number of requirements would be able to sell alcohol by the drink from 12:30 p.m. to midnight. State law prohibits Sunday sales of packaged alcoholic beverages at stores, but now Carrollton has joined Villa Rica, Newnan, Douglasville and a number of other cities across the state that have voted to allow by-the-drink sales at restaurants. Bowdon passed a referendum in 2008 allowing by-the-drink sales on all days except Sunday.

State law mandates that any municipality voting to allow Sunday sales limit the privilege to restaurants that derive at least half of all their annual gross sales from food and to hotels and motels that derive 50 percent or more of their total annual gross revenue to the rental of rooms or overnight lodging.

Garner said that even though he had some reservations about it, the move to allow Sunday sales will help local businesses weather the ongoing national economic recession.

“I think the increase in revenue is good for the economy. I really struggled when I went to the poll whether to vote in favor of it or against it. I thought maybe we had done about enough with alcohol in the city. However, it was one of those things where we represent the people, and they voted for it,” Garner said. “In this economy, whether you like this issue or not, we have to give our merchants every opportunity we can give them to make it work.”

Councilwoman Mandy Maierhofer said that in the past Carrollton residents were going as far as Douglasville to enjoy a drink on Sundays and that it only makes sense to keep people and their money in the city.

“It’s great for the economy. It certainly will keep people drinking in their community if that’s what they want to do. That’s one of the reasons why I brought up the issue, because people were asking me why I would want my constituents to drive to Douglasville and have a cocktail and have lunch. I said I certainly don’t [want that].”

The Irish Bred Pub and Grill, on Adamson Square in Carrollton, currently doesn’t open on Sundays, but store owner Chad Houck said the council’s decision will change that. Beginning on Dec. 13 and continuing every Sunday after that, the Pub will be open from noon until midnight. Not only will the expanded hours help business, Houck said, but the addition of Sunday alcohol sales will enable the restaurant to better accommodate its customers.

“We’re a little bit of a sports bar, and our clientele, the ones who watch sports on Sundays, like to drink on Sunday. Right now, we’re losing a lot of business to Newnan and Villa Rica and Douglasville,” Houck said. “We’re really hoping that this keeps revenue in Carrollton instead of it going elsewhere.”