Senate committee advances bill allowing retailer coupons and more in‑store alcohol tastings

A Georgia Senate committee voted 9–5 to advance Senate Bill 86, a majority‑leader measure that would allow retailers to offer coupons and permit up to two in‑store alcohol tastings per week, moving the measure to the Rules Committee for further consideration.

The bill’s presenter told the committee SB86 would "allow for retailers to offer coupons," including digital coupons, and added a "safe card" intended to prevent a retailer from offering a discount priced below the amount the retailer paid for the product. The presenter also said the substitute would permit retailers to double in‑store tastings from once a week to twice a week, increasing the annual cap from 52 to 104 tastings.

Public‑health witnesses strongly opposed the measure. Dr. Robert Brewer, a physician and epidemiologist who identified himself as a former director of the alcohol program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told senators he was "here to testify against SB 86, because it's bad for public health." Brewer said excessive drinking "kills an excess of 5,000 people in Georgia each year," argued alcohol consumption is price‑sensitive, and warned that lower retail prices would likely raise consumption and alcohol‑related harms.

Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, told the committee he and his organization oppose the bill, arguing that "availability equals sales. Sales equals consumption." He said his organization represents roughly 1.4 million Georgians and urged the committee to consider public‑safety consequences.

Supporters include trade groups added to the sponsor's list of backers this year: the National Federation of Independent Business, the Georgia Association of Convenience and Visitor Bureaus, Georgia Retailers, the Georgia Restaurant Association and the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association. The sponsor characterized the measure as "pro‑consumer" and said retailers would not be required to offer coupons if they chose not to.

A committee member moved "do pass" on the committee substitute (LC c550515s); the motion was seconded and passed by voice/hand count, 9 in favor and 5 opposed. The chair said the bill will proceed to the Rules Committee for further consideration.

Next steps: SB86 will be placed on the Rules calendar. The committee did not adopt additional substantive amendments on the floor of this hearing.

(Reporting note: quotations and attributions are from committee testimony and the committee's recorded proceedings.)