6. Cold Beer Prohibition Ends in Oxford

Board of Aldermen prepare to vote on cold beer sales ordinance / Photo By Justin Taylor

In 1972, Oxford passed an ordinance that allowed for the sale of beer in retail locations for the first time since all beer and alcohol sales were outlawed after World War II, but the beer could not be refrigerated. The ban included a prohibition on Sunday sales of all alcohol in the city limits. That law is no more as of August 20, 2013.

On Tuesday at approximately 6:09 p.m., Oxford Mayor Pat Patterson and the Board of Aldermen held their third reading and voted on an ordinance that would allow cold beer to be sold in the city limits and also allow beer to be sold on Sunday. The ordinance passed on a 6-1 vote, and just like that, the old law was swept away.

Oxford Chief of Police Joey East told HottyToddy.com on Monday that he has not seen any evidence that sales of cold beer in the city limits will cause any problems.

“I’ve called several departments that have recently gone to cold beer sales, and they have seen no increase in any type of alcohol related activity,” East said. “We’ve always been able to buy beer, so I don’t think that selling it cold is going to add that much into (alcohol related activity).”

In 30 days, off premise establishments (retail businesses) will be able to sell cold beer from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. However, bars and restaurants are still not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays, except during seven designated home game weekends. –– Justin Taylor, senior journalism major, Meek School of Journalism and New Media

Email Justin Taylor at jdtaylo2@go.olemiss.edu