Murphy and Andrews to Hold Alcohol Referendums
December 19, 2007
By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — Voters in Andrews and Murphy are being asked to do one simple thing before they head to the polls for Jan. 8 alcohol referendums — consider all the evidence.
"We know we can't stamp alcohol out, but we would like to see it not be made more readily available," said Lewis Jones, a concerned citizen and a member of Unaka Baptist Church. "We are working to make sure people are well aware of the issue and hope that, once fully aware, they will vote no."
Among the evidence: In 2005, more than half of all fatal weekend crashes were alcohol related; 75 percent of those in jail or prison are there for alcohol or drug related crimes they committed while under the influence; and in the 18-to-24 age group, at least 50 percent of all emergency room visits were alcohol related.
"Now when you put faces on these statistics, then you begin to realize how tragic the consequences of alcohol use and abuse," said the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina. "These figures are not just numbers. They represent real people whose lives touch other lives — children, spouses, business associates, employees, friends, and neighbors. Real lives whose dreams and aspirations are lost forever because of alcohol."
Creech is encouraged to see alcohol opponents in Cherokee County taking a multi-pronged approach to the upcoming vote including sermons on the issue, letters to the editor, billboards, brochures, door-to-door canvassing, and as the day of the vote nears, a period of prayer and fasting.
"We are sending every voter in Andrews a pamphlet with a high school student's picture from each of the three high schools in our county and on the front it says, 'Will you vote no for me?' Inside are statistics about alcohol," explained Dr. Tommy D. Lamb, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Andrews. "Also, on Jan. 5, the Saturday before the vote we are doing a door-to-door of the voters in Andrews, again asking them to vote no."
The pamphlet, which also includes a photo of what is left of a car after a fatal accident involving alcohol, is also being used in Murphy, where voters will decide whether to legalize both the on-premise and off-premise sale of beer and wine and liquor by the drink. In 2003, a referendum that would have allowed mixed drinks was rejected 240 to 195. Voters also defeated beer and wine sales there, 235 to 206.
In Andrews, malt beverage package sales were approved in 1982, but voters will decide next month if restaurants can sell beer and wine by the glass and if liquor by the drink will be allowed.
"This will be a close vote. If the church members do not vote, it will pass," said the Rev. Mitchell Shields, association missionary with Truett Baptist Association in Marble. He said an influx of new residents from out of state may make the fight against increased alcohol sales more difficult.
Another hurdle, according to Jones, who operates insurance offices in Murphy and Haysville, is the false claim from proponents that legalizing on-premise alcohol sales will automatically draw nationally known restaurants to the town.
"In our brochure, we name three towns (Hiwassee, Ga., Copperhill, Tenn., and Bryson City, N.C.) that have all legalized beer sales, but have not seen the promised construction of a large restaurant," Jones said. "The bottom line is that we do not have enough population to warrant big name restaurants and alcohol is not going to change that."
The brochure also debunks the idea that increased alcohol sales will mean decreased taxes.
"This is simply not true," it explains. "The cost of additional police, medical and other workers far exceeds the taxes generated by alcohol sales." To be more precise, or every $1 generated in tax revenue from alcohol sales in North Carolina, there is a corresponding expenditure of $21.42 due to the cost of alcohol related problems.
To further remind voters of the dangers of alcohol, the brochure includes the story of Sandra, an area woman who survived a crash that killed her sister. The two were returning from a birthday party in Kentucky when their car was struck by an oncoming van driven by a man who had been drinking. He was killed and two children were seriously injured.
"No one can say with certainty, but there is a great possibility that this accident would not have happened if the driver had not been impaired," Sandra writes. In truth, as little as one 2-ounce drink of liquor can impair a person's response time. Furthermore, those who claim that increasing access to alcohol is not a problem as long as drinkers use self-control may be missing out on the very nature of alcohol, which is to weaken the will to drink with moderation.
According to Creech, recent research has shown that 72 percent of alcohol related health problems, 67 percent of alcohol related marital problems, 63 percent of alcohol related employment problems, and 55 percent of alcohol related accidents and legal problems are caused by light and moderate drinkers.
"Some people say that we Christians are hypocrites because we preach and teach against alcohol, but not as strongly against tobacco or gluttony, but I'd like to point out that I can overeat on occasion, but still drive without being impaired and putting others in danger," said Jones. "I would hope that people could see the difference."
Jones is encouraged by a November vote in Fannin County, Ga., where liquor-by-the-drink was rejected by 541 votes. Fannin is on the northern edge of Georgia, also in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Rev. Lamb said he has been working with several pastors in Baptist churches to help defeat the vote in Andrews. Despite some letters to the editor suggesting that "Christians should stay out of it and that churches should keep their beliefs private," Lamb said he has stated his opinion clearly from the pulpit and will open his church all day on Jan. 8 for people to come in and pray.
Also planned is a large billboard on Highway 19/74 in Andrews. Plus, high school students are taking part in door-to-door visits in both towns, asking voters to represent them with a no vote and offering transportation to the polls on Jan. 8.
According to the Cherokee County Board of Elections, there are 1,433 eligible voters in Andrews and 1,193 who may vote in Murphy. There will be no early voting or absentee voting on these issues. Polls in both towns will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — Voters in Andrews and Murphy are being asked to do one simple thing before they head to the polls for Jan. 8 alcohol referendums — consider all the evidence.
"We know we can't stamp alcohol out, but we would like to see it not be made more readily available," said Lewis Jones, a concerned citizen and a member of Unaka Baptist Church. "We are working to make sure people are well aware of the issue and hope that, once fully aware, they will vote no."
Among the evidence: In 2005, more than half of all fatal weekend crashes were alcohol related; 75 percent of those in jail or prison are there for alcohol or drug related crimes they committed while under the influence; and in the 18-to-24 age group, at least 50 percent of all emergency room visits were alcohol related.
"Now when you put faces on these statistics, then you begin to realize how tragic the consequences of alcohol use and abuse," said the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina. "These figures are not just numbers. They represent real people whose lives touch other lives — children, spouses, business associates, employees, friends, and neighbors. Real lives whose dreams and aspirations are lost forever because of alcohol."
Creech is encouraged to see alcohol opponents in Cherokee County taking a multi-pronged approach to the upcoming vote including sermons on the issue, letters to the editor, billboards, brochures, door-to-door canvassing, and as the day of the vote nears, a period of prayer and fasting.
"We are sending every voter in Andrews a pamphlet with a high school student's picture from each of the three high schools in our county and on the front it says, 'Will you vote no for me?' Inside are statistics about alcohol," explained Dr. Tommy D. Lamb, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Andrews. "Also, on Jan. 5, the Saturday before the vote we are doing a door-to-door of the voters in Andrews, again asking them to vote no."
The pamphlet, which also includes a photo of what is left of a car after a fatal accident involving alcohol, is also being used in Murphy, where voters will decide whether to legalize both the on-premise and off-premise sale of beer and wine and liquor by the drink. In 2003, a referendum that would have allowed mixed drinks was rejected 240 to 195. Voters also defeated beer and wine sales there, 235 to 206.
In Andrews, malt beverage package sales were approved in 1982, but voters will decide next month if restaurants can sell beer and wine by the glass and if liquor by the drink will be allowed.
"This will be a close vote. If the church members do not vote, it will pass," said the Rev. Mitchell Shields, association missionary with Truett Baptist Association in Marble. He said an influx of new residents from out of state may make the fight against increased alcohol sales more difficult.
Another hurdle, according to Jones, who operates insurance offices in Murphy and Haysville, is the false claim from proponents that legalizing on-premise alcohol sales will automatically draw nationally known restaurants to the town.
"In our brochure, we name three towns (Hiwassee, Ga., Copperhill, Tenn., and Bryson City, N.C.) that have all legalized beer sales, but have not seen the promised construction of a large restaurant," Jones said. "The bottom line is that we do not have enough population to warrant big name restaurants and alcohol is not going to change that."
The brochure also debunks the idea that increased alcohol sales will mean decreased taxes.
"This is simply not true," it explains. "The cost of additional police, medical and other workers far exceeds the taxes generated by alcohol sales." To be more precise, or every $1 generated in tax revenue from alcohol sales in North Carolina, there is a corresponding expenditure of $21.42 due to the cost of alcohol related problems.
To further remind voters of the dangers of alcohol, the brochure includes the story of Sandra, an area woman who survived a crash that killed her sister. The two were returning from a birthday party in Kentucky when their car was struck by an oncoming van driven by a man who had been drinking. He was killed and two children were seriously injured.
"No one can say with certainty, but there is a great possibility that this accident would not have happened if the driver had not been impaired," Sandra writes. In truth, as little as one 2-ounce drink of liquor can impair a person's response time. Furthermore, those who claim that increasing access to alcohol is not a problem as long as drinkers use self-control may be missing out on the very nature of alcohol, which is to weaken the will to drink with moderation.
According to Creech, recent research has shown that 72 percent of alcohol related health problems, 67 percent of alcohol related marital problems, 63 percent of alcohol related employment problems, and 55 percent of alcohol related accidents and legal problems are caused by light and moderate drinkers.
"Some people say that we Christians are hypocrites because we preach and teach against alcohol, but not as strongly against tobacco or gluttony, but I'd like to point out that I can overeat on occasion, but still drive without being impaired and putting others in danger," said Jones. "I would hope that people could see the difference."
Jones is encouraged by a November vote in Fannin County, Ga., where liquor-by-the-drink was rejected by 541 votes. Fannin is on the northern edge of Georgia, also in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Rev. Lamb said he has been working with several pastors in Baptist churches to help defeat the vote in Andrews. Despite some letters to the editor suggesting that "Christians should stay out of it and that churches should keep their beliefs private," Lamb said he has stated his opinion clearly from the pulpit and will open his church all day on Jan. 8 for people to come in and pray.
Also planned is a large billboard on Highway 19/74 in Andrews. Plus, high school students are taking part in door-to-door visits in both towns, asking voters to represent them with a no vote and offering transportation to the polls on Jan. 8.
According to the Cherokee County Board of Elections, there are 1,433 eligible voters in Andrews and 1,193 who may vote in Murphy. There will be no early voting or absentee voting on these issues. Polls in both towns will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
