Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Mixed-Beverage Public Hearing Draws a Full House

Story by Kathleen McFadden

Shortly after 6:00 p.m., every seat was taken in the Watauga County commissioners’ boardroom last Thursday even though the public hearing on the question of whether to hold a mixed-beverage referendum in the Town of Boone was not scheduled to begin until 6:30. The overflow crowd filled the sidewalk outside the county administration building.

Each of the 33 speakers was allotted 2 minutes.

The Boone Town Council will decide whether to request a ballot referendum from the county Board of Elections.

Speaking in Opposition
A large contingent of church members from Vilas and Zionville attended the hearing, and many attendees wore yellow T-shirts provided by a Vilas church signaling their opposition to permitting alcohol sales in Boone restaurants.

Opposition comments included biblical references, moral issues, safety concerns and personal experience with addiction. Several local pastors spoke against alcohol. When those opposed to alcohol walked to the podium to speak, many members of the audience stood during their comments and encouraged them with affirmations of “amen” and applause.

Several speakers pointed out that although they do not live in Boone or own property or a business in Boone, they will be affected by the decision because they do their shopping in the town and eat at the town’s restaurants.
Rev. Derrick Wilson of Zionville spoke first and set the tone of the church members’ comments, reading verses from the Bible about the evils of alcohol and the need to prohibit it and closing with the observation that the town council members would have blood on their hands if a man were killed or a girl were raped as a result of permitting alcohol in the town.

Several subsequent speakers also maintained that the council members would have blood on their hands if they permitted alcohol in the town.
Eric Cornett asked the council to consider the crime rates in Charlotte and Raleigh and said that permitting alcohol would bring “establishments like bars and strip clubs to feed off people’s addiction to alcohol.”

Rev. Harold Danner of Zionville said that he has been called out several times when men who have been drinking have beaten their wives and abused their children. Alcohol, he said, was “never something God has approved of. It’s implied that Jesus turned water into wine, but our Savior would not make a stupefying drink. If you don’t know the difference between grape juice and wine, you need to get an education.”

Rev. Michael Greene said that the council’s responsibility “is to look out for all people and not just the interests of a few businessmen.”

Local businessman Jeff Templeton said that because West Jefferson, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk permit mixed-beverage sales is not a reason for Boone to follow suit. “The idea that we should do it because everybody else is doing it didn’t work for me in high school and shouldn’t work for the town,” he said. Templeton asked about the cost to public safety. “The more available liquor is, the more drunk driving there will be.” Templeton presented the council with a 300-signature opposition petition.

Speaking in Favor
Those speaking in favor of a referendum at the public hearing discussed the potential economic benefits of mixed-beverage sales and the fact that alcohol is already permitted in Boone through the ABC Store. Several speakers also requested that the council give Boone residents the opportunity to vote on the question, saying that the ability to vote is a question of democracy.

Mac Forehand, representing the Boone Tourist Development Authority, spoke in favor of a referendum because of the economic boost alcohol would represent for local restaurants.

Restaurant owner Mike Nelson said that mixed-beverage sales would give him the ability to compete with neighboring towns. Nelson said that patrons at his restaurants have left when they found out they could not order a drink with their dinner.

Forensic toxicologist Andrew Mason pointed out that in the 25 years he has studied alcohol impairment, he has found that more than 80 percent of DWI arrests are of persons who have been drinking beer. Mason said that he favors training servers and stepping up DWI detection and said he believes any increase in DWI arrests would be a very small number.

“Obviously, this issue is contentious,” Mason said, “and the best outcome is to refer it to the public so we can have this debate.” Mason closed by saying that the issue is one of personal responsibility and he is philosophically opposed to “restricting the privileges of the responsible majority because of the actions of the irresponsible minority.”

Saul Chase pointed out that state law currently allows “brown-bagging,” in which restaurant patrons can bring their own liquor to a restaurant. Permitting in-restaurant alcohol sales, Chase said, would promote public safety because “brown-bagging encourages excess consumption” while the $5 to $6 cost of a mixed beverage would limit consumption.

Former Boone Town Council member Bunk Spann said he was not for or against the question of mixed-beverage sales, but attended the public hearing “to speak passionately for the people in a democracy.” Spann continued, “I encourage you to give citizens the right to vote. Please give us the opportunity.”