Graham’s Sunday Ban on Beer and Wine Sales
January 3, 2008
By Luanne Williams
Correspondent
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
GRAHAM, N.C. — Residents who want to be able to enjoy a Sunday meal at a local restaurant without being exposed to alcohol sales should plan to speak out at the Jan. 8 meeting of the Graham City Council.
That's when the council will take up the Sunday beer ban — an oft-ignored city ordinance that prohibits restaurants and bars from selling beer and wine between 1 p.m. on Sunday and 7 am. Monday. When it came to the attention of authorities that restaurants had been violating the ban, police sent a letter reminding them of the ordinance. In response, some business owners asked that the local law be changed.
Councilman Jim Albright doesn't think repealing the rule is the answer. And he is hopeful to hear from likeminded residents at the public hearing.
"I don't think we ought to just overturn something that's on the books even if it wasn't being enforced all the time," Albright said. "The police are enforcing it now."
Data on vehicle crashes supports Albright's position. A New Mexico study released just over a year ago showed a 29 percent increase in alcohol-related crashes and a 42 percent increase in alcohol related crash fatalities on Sundays after a law against Sunday packaged sales of alcohol was rescinded.
"For the first time, we have real data on whether blue laws actually protect public health" said study co-author Garnett McMillan, Ph.D., of the Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest in Albuquerque, N.M. He said the study finds that "the Sunday ban saved lives and prevented hundreds of injuries and fatalities from alcohol-related crashes."
The situation in New Mexico dealt with package sales and not beer and wine by the glass. But the concept is the same — more availability of alcohol.
"By increasing the availability of alcohol on Sundays, you open the door to more opportunities for drinking and driving and the negative consequences that result," said McMillan.
North Carolina blue laws prevent the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings, but drinkers can still buy beer and wine in Graham convenience and grocery stores beginning at noon.
Although the Graham City Council could have taken action on the ban at its December meeting after being informed of the issue by City Manager Chris Rollins, Albright, fellow board member Jennifer Talley and Mayor Jerry Peterman pushed for the public hearing to get more feedback from Graham residents.
"At first everybody was surprised there was a Sunday drinking ban because it had apparently been overlooked for a long time," said Albright. "There were some complaints from people about the ordinance not being enforced, so hopefully those people will show up to express their opinion before we make a decision."
The City Council may also want to address the one-hour gap between noon and 1 p.m. during which on-premise alcohol sales are currently legal.
According to state ABC officials, the gap can be blamed on the arrival of the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte in 1996, after which the state law limiting Sunday alcohol sales was changed from 1 p.m. to noon to allow football fans to purchase beer and wine before going to 1 p.m. games.
Graham's ordinance was on the books long before the Panthers and hasn't been updated. Any change would be up to the city council.
Graham Councilman Vic Euliss said he is interested to hear what people have to say about the Sunday beer ban at Tuesday's public hearing.
Though he supported a 2000 liquor-by-the-drink referendum, he said he has no desire to see another contentious alcohol issue surface in the Alamance County seat.
"The issue in 2000 divided the city a lot and I have no desire to ever see that happen again," said Euliss, who was just 4 years old when his grandmother was hit and killed by a drunk driver. "I despise the abuse of alcohol."
Albright was a leader in the fight against liquor-by-the-drink seven years ago. Mixed drinks were also defeated in Graham in 1997 and in the early 1980s.
Albright said the Christian Action League helped alcohol opponents in 2000, with the Rev. Mark Creech speaking at a rally and providing signs.
Creech wants communities to know that help is available whenever alcohol issues arise. And he wants alcohol opponents to understand the importance of their battle.
"Make no mistake about it, when you oppose the sale of alcoholic beverages in your community; you are waging war against further proliferation of America's number one drug problem. You are fighting for families.... especially the lives of your children and future generations," Creech said. "You are fighting against that which is essentially evil and fighting for everything that is good and wholesome."
The Raleigh based Christian Action League discourages the promotion and use of alcohol and other drugs and works to train, develop and motivate Christians to be involved in the political process.
To speak out in support of the Sunday beer ban in Graham, attend the Jan. 8 public hearing at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 201 S. Main St., and sign up to speak.
Correspondent
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
GRAHAM, N.C. — Residents who want to be able to enjoy a Sunday meal at a local restaurant without being exposed to alcohol sales should plan to speak out at the Jan. 8 meeting of the Graham City Council.
That's when the council will take up the Sunday beer ban — an oft-ignored city ordinance that prohibits restaurants and bars from selling beer and wine between 1 p.m. on Sunday and 7 am. Monday. When it came to the attention of authorities that restaurants had been violating the ban, police sent a letter reminding them of the ordinance. In response, some business owners asked that the local law be changed.
Councilman Jim Albright doesn't think repealing the rule is the answer. And he is hopeful to hear from likeminded residents at the public hearing.
"I don't think we ought to just overturn something that's on the books even if it wasn't being enforced all the time," Albright said. "The police are enforcing it now."
Data on vehicle crashes supports Albright's position. A New Mexico study released just over a year ago showed a 29 percent increase in alcohol-related crashes and a 42 percent increase in alcohol related crash fatalities on Sundays after a law against Sunday packaged sales of alcohol was rescinded.
"For the first time, we have real data on whether blue laws actually protect public health" said study co-author Garnett McMillan, Ph.D., of the Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest in Albuquerque, N.M. He said the study finds that "the Sunday ban saved lives and prevented hundreds of injuries and fatalities from alcohol-related crashes."
The situation in New Mexico dealt with package sales and not beer and wine by the glass. But the concept is the same — more availability of alcohol.
"By increasing the availability of alcohol on Sundays, you open the door to more opportunities for drinking and driving and the negative consequences that result," said McMillan.
North Carolina blue laws prevent the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings, but drinkers can still buy beer and wine in Graham convenience and grocery stores beginning at noon.
Although the Graham City Council could have taken action on the ban at its December meeting after being informed of the issue by City Manager Chris Rollins, Albright, fellow board member Jennifer Talley and Mayor Jerry Peterman pushed for the public hearing to get more feedback from Graham residents.
"At first everybody was surprised there was a Sunday drinking ban because it had apparently been overlooked for a long time," said Albright. "There were some complaints from people about the ordinance not being enforced, so hopefully those people will show up to express their opinion before we make a decision."
The City Council may also want to address the one-hour gap between noon and 1 p.m. during which on-premise alcohol sales are currently legal.
According to state ABC officials, the gap can be blamed on the arrival of the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte in 1996, after which the state law limiting Sunday alcohol sales was changed from 1 p.m. to noon to allow football fans to purchase beer and wine before going to 1 p.m. games.
Graham's ordinance was on the books long before the Panthers and hasn't been updated. Any change would be up to the city council.
Graham Councilman Vic Euliss said he is interested to hear what people have to say about the Sunday beer ban at Tuesday's public hearing.
Though he supported a 2000 liquor-by-the-drink referendum, he said he has no desire to see another contentious alcohol issue surface in the Alamance County seat.
"The issue in 2000 divided the city a lot and I have no desire to ever see that happen again," said Euliss, who was just 4 years old when his grandmother was hit and killed by a drunk driver. "I despise the abuse of alcohol."
Albright was a leader in the fight against liquor-by-the-drink seven years ago. Mixed drinks were also defeated in Graham in 1997 and in the early 1980s.
Albright said the Christian Action League helped alcohol opponents in 2000, with the Rev. Mark Creech speaking at a rally and providing signs.
Creech wants communities to know that help is available whenever alcohol issues arise. And he wants alcohol opponents to understand the importance of their battle.
"Make no mistake about it, when you oppose the sale of alcoholic beverages in your community; you are waging war against further proliferation of America's number one drug problem. You are fighting for families.... especially the lives of your children and future generations," Creech said. "You are fighting against that which is essentially evil and fighting for everything that is good and wholesome."
The Raleigh based Christian Action League discourages the promotion and use of alcohol and other drugs and works to train, develop and motivate Christians to be involved in the political process.
To speak out in support of the Sunday beer ban in Graham, attend the Jan. 8 public hearing at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 201 S. Main St., and sign up to speak.
