how do you feel about Benton Co going wet?

[necraven]

Way overdue and agree, it should go wet. Tax money lost and the sheer ability to make a choice should be allowed by everyone.

"Live free or die!"

[DC at the Ridge]

There was an article in the papers last week that pointed out that even if the voters make Benton County wet, there are still hurdles to truly being a wet county. I believe that the "private" clubs will still have to operate as "private" clubs, and there are several other rules that have to be overcome.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

There was an article in the papers last week that pointed out that even if the voters make Benton County wet, there are still hurdles to truly being a wet county. I believe that the "private" clubs will still have to operate as "private" clubs, and there are several other rules that have to be overcome.

you are right about the private clubs until they can get liqour licenses but I don' think it will be too difficult for the liqour stores to start coming in. I read it as well, it was a little hard to comprehend or my brain wasn't working. I am guessing by spring or early summer we will have liquor stores here. I certainly hope so. Whether one decides to drink or not, is strictly a personal choice, but for those who choose to drink, why give the tax $$s to another county or state...I even think about the merchandise we buy when we go for a bottle of wine or hard liquor. I know, I will normally buy wine at a particular store that eveyone uses but if I need wine and a few groceries, I hit WalMart, so I can get everything at once.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by nmnita

you are right about the private clubs until they can get liqour licenses but I don' think it will be too difficult for the liqour stores to start coming in. I read it as well, it was a little hard to comprehend or my brain wasn't working. I am guessing by spring or early summer we will have liquor stores here. I certainly hope so. Whether one decides to drink or not, is strictly a personal choice, but for those who choose to drink, why give the tax $$s to another county or state...I even think about the merchandise we buy when we go for a bottle of wine or hard liquor. I know, I will normally buy wine at a particular store that eveyone uses but if I need wine and a few groceries, I hit WalMart, so I can get everything at once.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Establishments that sell liquor cannot be close by churches and schools. With the number of churches in the area, and schools as well, I suspect some convenience stores and possibly even some groceries, will not be able to sell liquor.

That article seemed to suggest that we would have to have another vote to allow restaurants to purchase their alcohol from wholesalers. Currently, the restaurants have to by from retailers? And there are laws about how much restaurants are required to charge for their drinks. Happy hours are great, but everywhere else I've traveled, happy hours have been much, much cheaper than they are in Benton County.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Establishments that sell liquor cannot be close by churches and schools. With the number of churches in the area, and schools as well, I suspect some convenience stores and possibly even some groceries, will not be able to sell liquor.

That article seemed to suggest that we would have to have another vote to allow restaurants to purchase their alcohol from wholesalers. Currently, the restaurants have to by from retailers? And there are laws about how much restaurants are required to charge for their drinks. Happy hours are great, but everywhere else I've traveled, happy hours have been much, much cheaper than they are in Benton County.

there will be a lot to work out. I don't think there is a min a restaurant has to charge for drinks, but I could be wrong. Logans is always running a great special, like $2 wine and beer I think and Bonefish has a 1/2 price happy hour as well, but I really don't know and i am probably the number 1 fan of "how to drink cheap"!!!

yes, there will be a restriction on how far from churches and schools a store can go in, I am sure. That is why we will most likely see the original ones in the Pinnacle Hills area and you know what, this might explain why WalMart is so interested in building there on 71 and not somewhere off of 279? There are not many blocks off 279 that do not have a church,

[necraven]

What is hurting the restaurants (and customers) by not having Benton County wet is the ability to use distributorships. When a restaurant purchases alcohol, wine or beer now they have to pay RETAIL! RETAIL! That means that bottle of wine you are drinking that cost you $15 at the store, cost them $15. They now need to make a profit on said bottle so it gets a huge amount of mark up.

When I managed an Italian restaurant in Little Rock, I would order a case of wine that had a bottle break down of about $7. We would then sell the bottle for $22-$27. Here that same bottle would go for $35+. Extra time and money to travel to get the drinks, etc when distributorships deliver it to your front door. I think the restaurant business (especially downtown Bentonville) would have an even bigger boom than you see now if they would make the county wet.