Pastors Contest Lifting Sunday Liquor Bans
Religious figures are urging government officials to continue longstanding bans on the Sunday sale of alcohol in stores and restaurants while industry advocates say Bible-belt bans are "archaic."
In Oxford, Mississippi Mayor George Patterson and the city board of Aldermen are considering dropping the Sunday ban of alcohol. On Sundays, liquors stores in the University of Mississippi hometown shut down and alcohol sales are restricted in restaurants.
The Board of Aldermen had already rejected a previous attempt to repeal the Sunday ban. However, the city officials are considering the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association's proposal to allow restaurants to skirt the ban and sell bottles of wine on "The Lord's Day."
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Pastor Eric Hankins of First Baptist church objects to rescinding the ban, citing the Ole' Miss and the town's reputations. "It's a school party town and that's created a culture of alcohol. Misuse and abuse of alcohol is a norm here," argued Hankins.
He believes that the town needs to shake off its party image. He also believes the community has the right to share that message that Sunday is a special day of rest and family and of spiritual significance.
"It's a good thing for a community to be able to say, even [among] irreligious people, it's good to be able to say spiritual things are important," said Hankins.
Sunday Alcohol sales have become a hot issue in several cities and states around the country. Voters in Texas and South Carolina will be answering referendum questions this Election Day to repeal Sunday drinking bans.
In Naperville, Ill., the alcohol ban was dropped in September. The town's mayor, A. George Pradel, said a survey found residents were going across city limits for their liquor.
"I think the number one thing is economic development. If you're talking about on-premise Sunday Sales, you're never going to get a national chain restaurant or quality hotels without [a Sunday liquor license]," Ben Jenkins, spokesman for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said, according to The Associated Press.
Jenkins denounced liquor ban as "archaic."
Hankins says Jenkins' statements are another example of how "all things bend to the dollar." He asserts that DISCUS and the MHRA, which is driving the issue in Oxford, "benefit economically [by] holding that opinion."
According to the MHRA's amendment to Responsible Wine Consumption Act, licensed restaurants and hotels would allow "a patron [to] remove one unsealed bottle of wine if (1) the patron consumed a portion of the wine with the purchase of a full meal, (2) the restaurant securely reseals the bottle, (3) the bottle is placed in a bag that is secured in a manner that is visibly apparent if the bag has been opened and (4) a dated receipt for the wine and meal is available."
Lynard Brock, pastor and founder of rehab program Sobriety Rocks, says that when his home county in Tennessee redesigned the Sunday liquor ban to allow sales after 1 p.m., large restaurants moved into the area.
As a drug counselor, Brock say repealing Sunday bans increases the distribution of America's most popular drug. "Alcohol is a drug. I don't care what they say," declared Brock.
Brock insists alcohol destroys lives and disrupts families just like other drugs. The only difference, he points out, is that "it's harder to get someone off alcohol because it's so readily and legally accessible."
Hankins also contends that "alcohol and use of alcohol is clearly the gateway" for other drugs that are already being abused in Oxford.
Meanwhile, Mayor Patterson said he has apprehensions about the amendment.
"The majority of people who live here don't want it to be another Beale Street or Bourbon Street," he said. Both places are known drinking destinations.
The Oxford Board of Aldermen will further discuss its Sunday ban in hearings later today.
