Sunday Alcohol Sales (Atlanta, Gibson, Ranger: attorney, theater, military)

[mike7586]

Originally Posted by Stars&StripesForever

By the way, the status quo is in favor of those who prohibit Sunday alcohol sales.

Not exactly true. As a whole, the state is actually in favor it. In Metro Atlanta, it would pass and in South Georgia and other rural counties, it probably won't.

They did a poll of some people and found that statewide 52 percent are in favor. In Metro Atlanta it is 67 percent. In South Georgia, people are very opposed to it (no surprise there).

Poll: Near Split For Sunday Alcohol Sales - WSB News on wsbradio.com (http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2011/01/poll-near-split-for-sunday-alc.html - broken link)

Also, many people are in favor of being able to vote on the issue, which is how it should be. There are so many forms of Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, Presbyterian, Baptist, Christian etc) and all of these different religions have different views. There are many Christians who are in favor of Sunday alcohol sales too.

[Caleb Longstreet]

Personally, I'm ambivalent about it but, for those that want this commodity, let em'. Besides, I think the local governments are plum out of new ideas in how to raise revenues. Going forward with alcohol sales on Sunday has a better chance of raising taxes for local governments faster than Viagra 100Mg doses do in raising you in the bedroom....

Why miss out on this revenue stream? If Laurel and Hardy want to stay tipsy for 7 days instead of 6, have at it. It might offer a pleasant distraction for us Sunday drivers as we cruise the crowded streets of Atlanta. Besides, I"m sick and tired of seeing those guys in Gorilla Suits, Statue of Liberty costumes, skin painted schemes jumping up and down advertising some feeble business in the adjacent strip malls. I just hate those guys. Don't you want to stop and just beat them senseless??? Maybe the alcohol sales on Sunday will provoke just an incident. Has to be somewhat odd watching a guy dressed up like the Statue of Liberty rolling around the sidewalks with some drunk....anything to take away the moments of a dull day.....I suppose....

Anyway, chances are good it will pass. Sooner or later it has to. Right after that, we can start the debate over Gambling and Casinos.....Harrahs of Atlanta.....what a hoot. The already broke patrons showing up with the last remnants of wealth (read: change in the ashtray) giving the slots one more chance to get it right.....between the booze and people that can't hold onto a dime if their life depended on it, we should have a new cottage industry of "counselors" and mental health professionals who are currently relegated to talking to kids about their Ritalin diets over the last 6 years and housewives of Atlanta who suffer from "depression" while their husbands work 24X7 to keep up with the lifestyle......

Booze on Sundays? Sure. It might give us one more chance at keeping those with ever hardening livers contributing to a failing health care system that will be tasked with taking care of them later....look at it like....a lay away plan for alcoholics....

Hic...

[plessthanpointohfive]

Why does everyone who is against booze think that people who drink fit one mold and that's of a slurring, drunken, loud-mouthed lush?

What about those of us who enjoy a glass or two of wine with a fine meal? When that spicy Zinfandel brings out the flavor of that steak or the fruity Pinot Grigio that really complements the chicken like a side dish?

Or who like a nice hoppy double IPA to go along with our burger and garlic fries? Or a chocolaty stout on a cold night next to a roaring fire?

I would say that characterizes most people who drink. And moderate intake is healthful, as studies have shown.

Sure, there will be people with addictive tendencies who abuse alcohol and it often runs in families. And while we'd like to help those people you're KIDDING yourself if you think any kind of booze ban will work. THOSE people will still find a way to get their booze, I promise you. Just read American history for proof.

But, hey, I'm just an ex-Catholic from Louisiana where not only can you buy alcohol 7 days a week but you can buy all forms of it at Winn-Dixie, where liquor stores only exist to specialize in finer or hard-to-fine varieties.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Folks, I'm asking not as a challenge, but because I do not know: what is the religious authority underpinning the "no Sunday sales" tenant? Is it derived from the Bible or is it something developed by a particular denomination? Stars&StripesForever, do you know? Thanks!

It's gotta be a Protestant thing because you know the Catholics wouldn't go there...

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Folks, I'm asking not as a challenge, but because I do not know: what is the religious authority underpinning the "no Sunday sales" tenant? Is it derived from the Bible or is it something developed by a particular denomination? Stars&StripesForever, do you know? Thanks!

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

It's gotta be a Protestant thing because you know the Catholics wouldn't go there...

Lots of plausible-seeming information here: Christianity and alcohol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And pless, according to the Wikipedia article, there was a temperance movement among American Roman Catholics, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries:

"In 1872 the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America united these societies and by 1913 reached some 90,000 members including the juvenile, women's, and priestly contingents. The Union pursued a platform of "moral suasion" rather than legislative prohibition and received two papal commendations."

See the article for more details. In the end, the church turned away from this path.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Yeah, but we're talking about Catholics...if it's not something that comes from the pope then it doesn't represent the faith, right? So, it seems these societies where more social reformers than religious crusaders.

But, honestly, I grew up a Catholic in Louisiana in a town halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. it was 99% Catholic and the only people who didn't drink were recovering alcoholics.

[bdawk]

I asked how you picked you religion
at what age?
and what was involved in the decision making process

Originally Posted by Stars&StripesForever

That's irrelevant to the discussion.

I'm really curious.
You seem to really be waving the christian flag as a justification to ban alcohol sales on Sundays.

It just seems that there must have been a lot of research involved with the decision to be become a christian which results in your strong connections to the faith.

Is that not the case?

Were you just born into it maybe?

AND as was mentioned, not all christians are against the choice to buy and consume alcohol when one chooses.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by Stars&StripesForever

Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews did not found the United States of America, nor have they been more than a blip on the radar of American history. Christianity and Christian people make up the religious cultural element of this country, as we are a country of Western Civilization, not the far east, south Asia, or Israel.

Jews: 1.3%
Buddhists: 0.5%
Muslims: 0.5%
Hindus: 0.4%

Christians: 76.5%<------This is the religion of the USA, culturally speaking, not those listed above.

Please read the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It doesn't matter what the majority religion is...that's the point. The gov't is supposed to be neutral and not pass laws for one religion or establish a national religion. You are free to practice your religion to your heart's content, but just let the rest of us alone. Keep our gov't out of the religion business.

That's the point. We're all free to worship or not worship as we choose, and the gov't is not supposed to make any law that prefers one religion over another, whether or not that religion represents 99% of the population or 1%. If you cannot understand that concept, then you completely miss out on the meaning of America, and that's where my ignorance comment comes from.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

Sunday alcohol sales legislation given good odds *| ajc.com

'New Gov. Nathan Deal has said he supports allowing local governments to make their own decision on Sunday sales.'

That is rather surprising to me --but I don't keep up with politics as I probably should.


Coming from a family of native Georgians who definitely will not see the need for the sale of alcohol on Sunday I have to wonder if this is a step in the right direction. That's just how we are. shrug

Good. If Deal is going to make good on his promise that "all options are on the table" for balancing our budget, then liquor sales on Sunday should be included. I do think it is a good compromise to not instantly legalize it but to shift the decision to individual counties.

I would be interested in knowing how much tax revenue per capita the state could generate, by sole purpose of letting them run their business one more day.

[Stars&StripesForever]

Originally Posted by Mattie

But you seem to be equating Christian with Baptist, and that isn't the case. I know many fine Protestants and Catholics that, while "Christian" don't have any problem with alcohol sales.

True, but that doesn't mean that their loose interpretation is Biblical. Lutherans are probably the most pro-alcohol Protestant denomination, but very few live in Georgia. Still, their take on alcohol doesn't mean that it is Biblical. For many people, drinking alcohol, even "in moderation", drags them into a world of alcoholism. The Bible speaks out against the "strong drink" and drunkenness as being sinful. Given that it is easy for people to be dragged into drunkenness, the idea of drinking, which is apt to make people sin, shouldn't be condoned.