MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representatives Smith (35th), Rotenberry, Smith (39th), Stribling

AN ACT TO REPEAL SECTION 67-1-14, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ALLOWS CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES LOCATED IN COUNTIES THAT HAVE VOTED AGAINST COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE STATE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DRY LAW TO VOTE TO ALLOW THE SALE, DISTRIBUTION AND POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 67-1-3, 67-1-7, 67-1-85 AND 67-1-91, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 67-1-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, which allows certain municipalities located in counties that have voted against coming out from under the state alcoholic beverage dry law to vote to allow the sale, distribution and possession of alcoholic beverages, is repealed.

SECTION 2. Section 67-1-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

67-1-3. The policy of this state is reannounced in favor of prohibition of the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession and transportation of intoxicating liquor; and the provisions against such manufacture, sale, distribution, possession and transportation of intoxicating liquor, as contained in Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972 and elsewhere, are hereby redeclared the law of this state. The purpose and intent of this chapter is to vigorously enforce the prohibition laws throughout the state, except in those counties * * * voting themselves out from under the prohibition law in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and, in those counties, * * * to require strict regulation and supervision of the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession and transportation of intoxicating liquor under a system of state licensing of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, which licenses shall be subject to revocation for violations of this chapter.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this chapter are repealed only to the extent of such conflict; however, except as is provided in this chapter, all laws prohibiting the manufacture, sale, distribution and possession of alcoholic beverages, which are not in conflict with this chapter shall remain in full force and effect, and all such laws shall remain in full force and effect in counties * * * wherein the manufacture, sale, distribution and possession of alcoholic beverages has not been authorized as a result of an election held under Section 67-1-11 * * *, Mississippi Code of 1972, or as otherwise provided in this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 67-1-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

67-1-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 67-9-1 for the transportation and possession of limited amounts of alcoholic beverages for the use of an alcohol processing permittee, and subject to all of the provisions and restrictions contained in this chapter, the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession and transportation of alcoholic beverages shall be lawful, subject to the restrictions hereinafter imposed, in those counties * * * of this state in which, at a local option election called and held for that purpose under the provisions of this chapter, a majority of the qualified electors voting in such election shall vote in favor thereof. The manufacture, sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages shall not be permissible or lawful in counties except in (a) incorporated municipalities located within such counties, (b) qualified resort areas within such counties approved as such by the State Tax Commission, or (c) clubs within such counties, whether within a municipality or not. The manufacture, sale, distribution and possession of native wines shall be lawful in any location within any such county except those locations where the manufacture, sale or distribution is prohibited by law other than this section or by regulations of the commission.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, within any state park or any state park facility which has been declared a qualified resort area by the commission and any clubhouse that is a qualified resort area under Section 67-1-5(o)(iii), an on-premises retailer's permittee may lawfully sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on his licensed premises regardless of whether or not the county or municipality in which the park is located has voted in favor of coming out from under the dry law.

SECTION 4. Section 67-1-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

67-1-85. (1) The holder of a package retailer's permit may have signs, lighted or otherwise, on the outside of the premises covered by his permit which advertise, announce or advise of the sale of alcoholic beverages in or on said premises. Wherever the sign is located on the premises, the name of the business shall also include the permit number thereof, preceded by the words "A.B.C. Permit No."

(2) It shall be lawful to advertise alcoholic beverages by means of signs, billboards or displays on or along any road, highway, street or building.

(3) It shall be lawful for publishers, broadcasters and other kinds, types or forms of public and private advertising media to advertise alcoholic beverages; provided, however, that no alcoholic beverages may be advertised during, or within five (5) minutes preceding or following, any television broadcast which consists primarily of animated material intended for viewing by young children.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, it shall be unlawful for any advertisement of alcoholic beverages to originate in any * * * county or judicial district which has not voted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages, and it shall also be unlawful in such * * * counties and judicial districts to advertise alcoholic beverages by means of signs, billboards or displays.

SECTION 5. Section 67-1-91, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

67-1-91. (1) It is hereby made the duty of every police and peace officer and every district and county attorney and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the State Tax Commission to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to inform against and diligently prosecute persons whom they have reasonable cause to believe to be offenders against the provisions thereof. Every such officer refusing or neglecting to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the court, in addition to imposing the penalty therefor, shall adjudge forfeiture of his office.

(2) In any county or municipality where it is readily apparent that local law enforcement authorities in cooperation with the agents and inspectors provided by the commission cannot control the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages, the commission shall request such assistance as it may deem necessary from the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol; and it shall be the duty of the Governor of the State of Mississippi to see that the laws of the state are properly enforced by use of the additional authority as herein provided.

(3) The officers, agents and representatives of the State Tax Commission and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division thereof are authorized and directed to strictly enforce the prohibition laws throughout the state, except in those counties * * * which have voted for the legalized sale of intoxicating liquor. The State Highway Patrol, sheriffs, police departments, constables, and all peace officers, and prosecuting attorneys, the Attorney General's office, district attorneys, county attorneys, city attorneys, and all others charged with upholding the law, as well as the citizenry of this state, are hereby urged and directed to uphold the dignity of the law, to foster public respect therefor and to strictly enforce the laws against intoxicating liquor in all cases while operating a motor vehicle on the streets and highways of this state, and to enforce the law and prosecute against the wrongful use of intoxicating liquor in any county or municipality by a permit holder or licensee or anyone else under such circumstances and conditions as would lead to a breakdown in public law or is violative of the public sense of common decency, as well as to enforce the law against gambling, organized crime, or social vice and corruption.

SECTION 6. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.