Madison County updates restaurant liquor resolution to match state law, allows limited off‑premise sales

MADISON COUNTY — The Madison County Commission on Wednesday adopted a revised resolution governing restaurant retail liquor licenses, updating the county’s local rules to reflect the state Legislature’s 2022 changes and to allow certain restaurant licensees to sell wine or other alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption under the conditions set by state law.

The commission’s action aligns county licensing rules with Ala. Code section 20-8-3A-13(3) (as cited during the meeting). County staff said the revision was prompted in part by a developer and prospective restaurant operator in the Cliff Farms development seeking to use a business model that includes a wine club and the sale of bottles for customers to take home.

County staff described the amended resolution as a reflection of state license language and said it captures the state statute’s requirements for restaurants to sell wine, beer or liquor for off-premise consumption. Commissioners debated the change briefly; no public comments were received during the public hearings on related restaurant license applications that the commission opened separately in the meeting.

Why it matters: The change removes a local restriction that previously prevented restaurants from pairing on-premise consumption with some off-premise sales models (for example, tasting-room or bottle club sales tied to a restaurant), and it provides a clear local procedure that mirrors the state statute. The amendment is expected to affect restaurants seeking on-premise licenses with ancillary off-premise bottle sales, though the transcript does not specify any immediate license approvals tied to the change.

Meeting record: County staff presented the proposed resolution and noted it was drafted to "capture the requirements of the state under section 20 eight-3A-thirteen(three)," as stated in the meeting record. Commissioners then moved and seconded the resolution; the motion carried on a voice vote. One commissioner noted the revision "matches what the state says in their license." The commission instructed staff to proceed with the updated local rule.

Process and next steps: The county’s updated resolution is now in effect as the local policy for restaurant retail liquor licenses; individual license applications (including two heard in public hearings during the meeting) will return for final action on future agendas. The county clerk and license office were directed to update local guidance and application forms to reflect the amended language.