South Carolina Retirement Community Seeking Beer & Wine License

A church-affiliated retirement community is ending its effort to serve liquor but will continue to seek a beer and wine license after the state rejected its request to serve alcohol. 

“We will drop the liquor portion,” The Oaks President and Chief Executive Officer the Rev. James McGee said. “We will protest denial and have a hearing before an administrative law judge, which is required any time you have even one protest. 

“It is a legal process and we will continue the process.”

Springfield United Methodist Church member Nona Douglas said despite plans to drop the liquor license application, she still is opposed to a beer and wine license being issued. She is concerned about mixing medicine with alcohol and its potential negative impact on the health of seniors.

Douglas also referenced The Oaks’ church affiliation, saying “To me it is all alcohol.”

The S.C. Department of Revenue said it rejected The Oaks’ request for a beer and wine license as well as a liquor-by-the-drink license “due to not meeting the distance requirements” which state that a liquor license cannot be issued “if the place of business is within three hundred feet of any church, school or playground.”
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