Position Statements

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports certain commercial service airports to sell alcohol during certain times on Sundays.

The Georgia Restaurant Association support the modernization of existing Title III code to ensure consistency of rules and regulations statewide for our restaurants and brewpubs and remain competitive with other states.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports a permanent 100 percent federal tax deduction for business meals.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports a level playing field for liquor license holders in the State of Georgia. We oppose legislation which would allow for 24-hour liquor licenses in casinos.​

The Georgia Restaurant Association encourages transparency and fairness in setting interchange “swipe” fee rates and rules so merchants and their guests understand the cost of these hidden fees.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports commonsense immigration reform that expands U.S. employers’ ability to hire a legal workforce. The restaurant industry employs many DACA recipients and we see the DACA program as a positive step to help bring more legal employees into the restaurant workforce. Immigration is a highly charged, complex issue that requires deliberate, constructive bipartisan dialogue and debate. We will continue to work closely with all parties involved to enact sensible immigration policies that benefit our members, our employees, our entire industry, and the growth of the United States Economy.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports a permanent repeal of the "death tax".

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports measures that address lowering health care costs, including tort reform and employer access to coverage across state lines.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports comprehensive immigration reform, but only at the federal level, including increased border security, a workable employment verification system, a worker program and an earned path to permanent residence for certain undocumented immigrants.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports employer efforts to provide flexible, voluntary leave benefits for their workforces.

The Georgia Restaurant Association is proud of the richly diverse restaurant community we serve and employ in our state. We foster a welcoming dining experience for all who visit and oppose any unnecessary legislation that conflicts these measures, thus portraying Georgia as an unwelcoming state.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports Georgia Public Health officials in working with the private sector to ensure that guidelines managing the sales of food from a mobile location "Street Food" vendor meet all state requirements ensuring the service of safe and wholesome food.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports abolishment of the state tax on business inventories, a revenue-neutral plan to cut state income tax, as well as the repeal of sales tax on restaurant manufacturing equipment. 

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports the continuation of the 45(B) FICA tax tip credit - a reimbursement to food and beverage employers for a portion of FICA taxes paid on certain employee tip income. The 45(B) credit has been critical in getting restaurateurs to encourage tip reporting and helping the IRS collect employment and income taxes on employee tips.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports comprehensive reform that strengthens our transportation infrastructure and the economic growth that results.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports our industry, other businesses, and the community as a whole to help lessen our environmental footprint and become more sustainable. The goal is to teach businesses how to minimize waste, streamline their savings and promote sustainability practices across the foodservice industry and beyond. The GRA supports consistent rules that have been thought out and tested properly to ensure feasibility and effective implementation.

The Georgia Restaurant Association supports permanent extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The WOTC is currently extended through 2022 and promotes the hiring of individuals who qualify as a member of a target group as well as providing a federal tax credit to employers who hire these individuals.