[PurpleLove08]

Do you live in a dry or wet county?
Do you want it to stay that way?

I personally don't see the big deal with the Alcohol Board granting liquor licenses to private clubs in dry counties.
There seems to be somewhat of a controversy about it. About a 100 people were at the state capital protesting the state Alcohol board granting liquor licenses to private clubs in dry counties.

If any of you are for a dry county, why? I'm sincerely interested.
Are you concerned about underage drinking or drunk driving?

[DC at the Ridge]

In Benton County, at least, I don't think that the dry county status really lowers drunk driving or underage drinking. Alcohol is SO available here, with most restaurants offering it, and the fact that pretty much anywhere in the county you aren't more than fifteen minutes from a liquor store. Siloam Springs can go to West Siloam Springs, Bentonville/Bella Vista goes to Missouri, southern Rogers goes to Washington County, northern Rogers goes to Missouri, if you're out at the lake you can head to Carroll County.

I think a lot of the opponents of making Benton County wet are just opposed to drinking, period. They might use the underage drinking or drunk-driving issues to further their point, but the opponents almost invariably are organized by church groups that oppose drinking of any kind.

And of course, the tremendous difficulties with going from dry to wet make that transition quite difficult. Especially in more populated counties.

[jenni-b]

If you're opposed to drunk driving maybe you shouldn't make it where people who have been drinking and want more have to drive fifteen minutes across a county line to get it.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by jenni-b

If you're opposed to drunk driving maybe you shouldn't make it where people who have been drinking and want more have to drive fifteen minutes across a county line to get it.

Because in wet counties you never have to drive anywhere to get it?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

In Benton County, at least, I don't think that the dry county status really lowers drunk driving or underage drinking. Alcohol is SO available here, with most restaurants offering it, and the fact that pretty much anywhere in the county you aren't more than fifteen minutes from a liquor store. Siloam Springs can go to West Siloam Springs, Bentonville/Bella Vista goes to Missouri, southern Rogers goes to Washington County, northern Rogers goes to Missouri, if you're out at the lake you can head to Carroll County.

I think a lot of the opponents of making Benton County wet are just opposed to drinking, period. They might use the underage drinking or drunk-driving issues to further their point, but the opponents almost invariably are organized by church groups that oppose drinking of any kind.

And of course, the tremendous difficulties with going from dry to wet make that transition quite difficult. Especially in more populated counties.

DC, I have heard and who knows what is right, one reason Benton County is dry, the owners of certain liqour stores, my guess might be McAdoodles, want to keep it that way. Again, heard this from someone at bridge when i first moved here, have no clue as whether this is fact or fiction. For us, because we are so close to the MO line, I could care less, wet or dry. Booze is cheaper in MO anyway and as you said, Benton County is the wettist dry county in the country when it comes to restaurant and bars.

Nita

[DC at the Ridge]

The owners of liquor stores in adjacent counties to Benton might indeed like the status quo, but they aren't responsible for Benton County staying dry. In order to just get the issue on the ballot, wet proponents have to get 38% of the county's registered voters to sign the petition to get it on the ballot. They have to keep people from double-signing. They have to make sure the people signing are registered. They have to make sure the people signing have an updated registration. Essentially, they have to shoot for getting at least 50% of the registered voters to sign, because there will be challenges to the petitions. And that's an enormous obstacle to overcome just to get it on the ballot. Once it's on the ballot, you've got to convince supporters to vote for it, because the churches will have ample opportunity to organize their opposition. The churches have buses they can use to get members to the polls. And how many of us go to churches to vote to begin with. More than half the polling places in Benton County are used at least part-time as churches. So the opponents can get the vote out. But the fact that Benton County is so wet, (February 08, we had 110 "private" clubs licensed to serve alcohol) means that getting pro-wet voters to the polls is much more difficult. The only change will be liquor stores in the county. Availability of alcohol won't be affected that much at all. So how do you motivate pro-wet voters enough to off-set the pro-dry voters?

[bchris02]

Most counties are dry because people see alcohol consumption as sinful. Some places like Benton county are so close to wet country that people can easily drive over the border to get alcohol, but there are other places where you have to make an hour+ trip. This in my opinion is just yet another example of the role religion plays in politics around here. Things would get a whole lot better in this state if these holy rollers would focus on their own Christianity instead of using the government to enforce their religious convictions.

[jenni-b]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

Because in wet counties you never have to drive anywhere to get it?

not if there's one in walking distance.

Most counties are dry because people see alcohol consumption as sinful. Some places like Benton county are so close to wet country that people can easily drive over the border to get alcohol, but there are other places where you have to make an hour+ trip. This in my opinion is just yet another example of the role religion plays in politics around here. Things would get a whole lot better in this state if these holy rollers would focus on their own Christianity instead of using the government to enforce their religious convictions.

totally agree.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by jenni-b

not if there's one in walking distance.

You don't think anyone in Benton County lives within walking distance of a liquor store?

I said for most residents they lived WITHIN 15 minutes of a liquor store.

[jenni-b]

I think residents of a wet county are more likely to be within walking distance of a liquor store than residents of a dry county.