by Jon Styf
Selling alcohol at bars starting at 8 a.m. on Sundays, the same as other days of the week, is under consideration in the Tennessee Legislature and being pushed by the NFL Titans.
The bill would require a city that has approved liquor-by-the-drink sales by referendum to pass an ordinance to allow alcohol sales earlier than the current 10 a.m. on Sundays.
Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, said House Bill 1872 was proposed by the Tennessee Titans related to Nashville and international National Football League games.
“We have a lot of international games that start very early and people want to go watch their teams play and enjoy a bloody Mary or mimosa,” Freeman said.
House Bill 1672 passed the Departments and Agencies Subcommittee this week and is scheduled to be heard in the State Government Committee on Wednesday.
“So you’re saying it’s 5 o’clock somewhere?” Freeman was asked in the subcommittee.
“Yes sir, I am, in London,” Freeman responded.
The Titans played in London in 2018 and 2023.
European games in the NFL, and there are four in 2024, have not been announced but the franchises designated as “home team” are set. The Titans are the guests of two of them – the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. Full schedules will be released in the spring.
The Senate State and Local Government Committee is set to hear companion Senate Bill 1800 on Tuesday.
The bill would require the Metro Nashville’s council to pass an ordinance moving alcohol sales earlier as well.
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Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter of The Center Square who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies.
I recently wrote about the many demands upon State and local government that seem to be coming continually from the Tennessee Titans ownership. My comment was made to the Tennessee Star story dated 3-4-24, entitled, “Tennessee House Votes to Allow Super Bowl Deals to Remain Hidden for 10 Years.”
In my comment, I sarcastically said, “What will these people want next? Egg in their beer?” But doggone if THAT is not what these people now want?! (Or, it’s close enough for government work.) I think that it is long past time for the State of Tennessee, and Metro Nashville, to tell these people NO!!!
Incidentally, the Senate Bill (SB 2093) which is the companion bill to the House Bill (HB 1692) that was passed a few days ago, comes upon for a State Senate committee hearing tomorrow. The Senate companion bill will be an opportunity for the Tennessee General Assembly (i.e., the State Senate) to reconsider this larger issue of Tennessee Titans overreach and do the ‘right thing’ here.
Why not? we’ve bent over backward for everything else they have asked for. On top of that, why not create a cabinet level position for one of their reps in Bill Lee’s administration?
Tell the Titans to stick it their ear.
No. Period. No.