Local News
Supporters say liquor vote will bring economic progress
But opponents still worry about social costs
After Varnell voters approved two alcohol by the drink-related referendums in July, there was hope the changes would bring more restaurants to the city and deliver added tax revenue.
Then, the economy went sour. That caused several restaurant deals to fall through.
“But it’s coming,” says Mark Fidler, a member of the Varnell City Council.
So what type of growth can unincorporated Whitfield County expect after county voters on Tuesday approved a liquor by the drink referendum? Fidler believes that referendum will “bring great progress to the area,” with areas of the county that are currently lacking restaurants — such as Connector 3 and Carbondale — possibly seeing a boom.
County residents approved the referendum by 13,609 votes (51 percent) to 13,075 (49 percent). They voted down a Sunday alcohol by the drink referendum by 14,564 votes (54.38 percent) to 12,220 (45.62 percent). The county already allows the sale of beer and wine by the drink. Two restaurants have permits to sell beer and wine.
The liquor by the drink referendum asked whether restaurants and hotels in unincorporated Whitfield County should be allowed to sell distilled spirits — mainly liquor — by the drink, but not on Sunday.
Randy Waskul, a member of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, said the lack of liquor by the drink has driven away potential restaurants. He said it has also caused Whitfield County residents to dine in neighboring counties and Chattanooga.
While there have been several failed attempts to bring Sunday alcohol sales to the county, the cities of Dalton and Varnell have already accepted it. In November 2006, city of Dalton voters approved a referendum to allow the sale of alcohol by the drink in restaurants on Sunday. In July, the Sunday sale of alcohol by the drink in Varnell passed by a single vote, while voters also passed a measure to allow the sale of distilled spirits by the drink. The sale of beer and wine by the drink has been allowed in Varnell since January.
“It’s one of those things where we need growth everywhere in the county,” Fidler said. “If we were the only other option, it would benefit us in the short term, but long term having it everywhere in the county is better for everybody.”
But some wonder about the social consequences of the greater availability of alcohol. Members of the Citizens Against Alcohol Sales mobilized this fall to attempt to defeat the measures. Charlie Bridges, spokesman for the group and the pastor of Grove Level Church, said the group will meet at some point to discuss the next step.
“What do we do?” Bridges said. “How do we respond? What recourses do we have? There’s certainly alcohol education and talking about drunk driving.”
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