OXFORD - Lafayette County supervisors declined to support the owner of Ravine restaurant on Monday in his bid to sell wine on Sundays.

Under state law, Joel Miller had to secure resort status from the State Tax Commission to sell alcoholic beverages. He won that designation in April and was awarded a liquor license last month, but the Tax Commission tied its hours and days of sale to those of Oxford, which does not allow Sunday sales.

The commission has not said why the restaurant was tied to city hours. The Ravine is located just south of Oxford.

Miller reminded the board that another Lafayette County restaurant, Castle Hill, was given a 24-7 liquor license with its resort status, putting Ravine at a competitive disadvantage for Sunday brunch and supper.

He said he was told by Tax Commission staffers that having a letter of support from the county would strengthen his appeal.

Board President Lloyd Oliphant made a motion to support Miller's petition.

"It's not about alcohol to me," he said. "It's about Mr. Miller's being treated unfairly."

The motion died for lack of a second.

Some supervisors had said earlier that they oppose all alcohol consumption in the county, while another said it was a Tax Commission issue and not a matter for county involvement.

Contact Errol Castens at (662) 281-1069 or errol.castens@djournal.com.