2019 Code of Alabama
Title 45 - Local Laws.
Chapter 36 - Jackson County.
Article 2 - Alcoholic Beverages.
Section 45-36-20 - Charge of classification for incorporated municipalities.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, Chapter 2A of Title 28, and pursuant to authority granted by Section 104 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, the electors of an incorporated municipality located in Jackson County with a population of 2,500 or more inhabitants may change its classification from dry to wet or wet to dry by a municipal option election as provided by this section.

(b)(1) Upon petition of 25 percent of the number of voters voting in the last general election of the municipality having a population of 2,500 or more inhabitants being filed with the city or town clerk or governing body of the municipality, the governing body shall call a municipal option election for the municipality to determine the sentiment of the people as to whether alcoholic beverages may be legally sold or distributed in the municipality. The petition for the municipal option election shall contain the following: "It is petitioned that a municipal option election be held to determine whether the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages shall be permitted within this municipality." On the ballot to be used for the municipal option election, the question shall be in the following form: "Do you favor the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within this municipality? Yes ___ No ___."

(2) The municipal option election shall be held and the officers shall be appointed to hold the election in the manner provided by law for holding other municipal elections and the returns thereof tabulated and the results certified as provided by law for municipal elections. The municipal option election shall be held on the date set by the governing body. Notice of the municipal option election shall be given by the governing body of the municipality by publication at least three weeks before the date of the election, in a newspaper in the municipality, or, if there be none, in a newspaper in the county, or, if there be neither, by posting the notice at the town or city hall, apprising the voters of the municipality that a municipal option election shall be held to determine whether the municipality shall be wet or dry under this section. The cost of the municipal option election, including the cost of notice by publication, shall be paid out of the general fund of the municipality.

(3) Only qualified electors of the municipality may vote in the municipal option election. If a majority of the electors in the municipal option election vote "yes," the municipality shall be wet, and alcoholic beverages may be legally sold, distributed, and consumed within the corporate limits of the municipality, and all of the provisions of Title 28, relating to alcoholic beverages in wet municipalities, including, but not limited to, Chapters 3, 3A, 6, and 7, shall be immediately put into operation with respect to and effective within the corporate limits of the municipality. Notwithstanding the results of any subsequent county election, special method referendum, or other election, the municipality shall remain wet until changed to a dry municipality at a subsequent municipal option election conducted in the same manner as required for the initial election, including, but not limited to, the petition procedure.

(4) If a majority of the voters voting in the municipal option election vote "no," the municipality shall be a dry municipality under the terms of this section until the municipality, by a subsequent municipal option election held under this section, votes wet.

(5) At least 1,560 days shall have lapsed before a second municipal option election may be held in the municipality.

(c) If the electors of any municipality in Jackson County having a population of 2,500 or more inhabitants vote at any time to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in its corporate limits pursuant to this section, then the electors of any other municipality in the county may petition for and hold an election on whether to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages in the same manner, and under the same conditions, as prescribed for municipalities of 2,500 or more inhabitants.