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Sunday,
October 27, 2007
By
Christian Trejbal
Two years ago, the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce asked voters to lift a
ban on the sale of mixed-alcohol beverages in the Cloyd District. A Ruby
Tuesday, leaders said, would open in Fairlawn. Cheap, chain eats would be right
around the corner in no time.
The measure passed overwhelmingly, but Ruby Tuesday never came.
Now, the chamber is back, asking voters to lift the ban in the Draper
District. No promises this time, only some hints from the county administrator
that some chain restaurant is interested.
County residents should entertain some skepticism, but then they should vote
for the change anyway. The ban is a foolish, outdated law.
What sort of Christian temperance movement came up with this policy? I must
have missed the Bible passage that allows beer and wine with dinner but not a
martini. Maybe it's that whole Mount of Olives
thing.
Pulaski County isn't alone. Montgomery and Giles
counties have similar bans that ought to go.
Meanwhile, many New River
Valley towns and Radford
allow liquor sales. They host most of the region's eateries.
Spencer Rygas, the Pulaski chamber president, hopes once the ban disappears,
franchises will take another look at the county. In his mind, eliminating the
ban is an economic development measure.
"This is a chance to reduce barriers to businesses like that coming to
our county," he said.
Sure, people can enjoy a meal without alcohol or with just beer or glass of
wine, but many chain eateries won't give an area a first look if they can't
sell the more profitable harder stuff.
Rygas is eying the Draper area, where a new Wal-Mart and Arby's spark hope.
"We're looking to prevent the export of dollars to other
counties," Rygas said.
If the chains show up, Pulaski residents will be able to stop driving to
Radford and Wytheville to enjoy a mass-produced meal and a beverage. They will
spend their money locally, and the restaurants will pay taxes that fund public
services.
Any fretting about drunken driving is misplaced. Diners and drinkers can get
just as liquored up from beer and wine as they can from mixed drinks. At least
if they are dumb enough to get behind the wheel afterward, having the
restaurant in Pulaski will mean less time on the road.
The double standard for alcohol has only hindered economic growth. Voters
should free up the Draper District on Nov. 6, then the rest of the county as
soon as possible.
Trejbal is an editorial writer for The Roanoke Times based in the New River Valley bureau in Christiansburg.
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/trejbal/wb/137558
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