Nearly nine months after Floyd County voters approved allowing restaurants in unincorporated areas to sell distilled spirits by the drink, county officials are now drafting the regulations that would make those sales possible.

Voters approved the referendum during a special election in November 2025, authorizing the Floyd County Board of Commissioners to permit and regulate liquor-by-the-drink sales at qualifying restaurants in unincorporated Floyd County. A separate referendum also approved Sunday liquor-by-the-drink sales.

The proposed ordinance, which is expected to be presented to commissioners in the coming weeks, would establish licensing requirements, operating rules and enforcement procedures for restaurants seeking to serve distilled spirits. Floyd County already licenses restaurants in unincorporated areas for on-premises beer and wine sales, but current regulations do not include liquor by the drink.

Officials say the changes would give restaurants outside the City of Rome the ability to offer the same type of alcoholic beverage service already available in many incorporated areas, potentially making those businesses more competitive and attractive to customers.

Any ordinance must be approved by the Floyd County Board of Commissioners before restaurants can begin applying for liquor-by-the-drink licenses. County leaders have not announced when licenses would become available, but the proposal marks the final step in implementing the authority granted by voters last fall.