Referendum on alcohol sales one that should be settled by voters

It seems the highball could soon be volleyed into the people’s court.

On Monday, representatives from the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Hospitality Association of South Carolina appealed to Florence City Council to include a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot that would allow voters to decide to retain or lift a ban on Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants.

While these Sunday sales are against state law, city and county councils have the authority to pass ordinances that would permit voters to decide through referendum. Council will have a first reading of such an ordinance during its Aug. 11 meeting. If passed, a second reading would be required in order for it to be included on the November ballot.

Points presented to council by referendum supporters largely were economic in focus and asserted that our struggling restaurant industry would benefit from increased revenues of about $650,000 per month, with a projected 15 percent of that generated through alcohol sales. Other pros included the possibility of attracting more restaurants to the area as well as reducing the likelihood that Sunday travelers will bypass Florence for the promise of a drink with dinner farther down the highway.

Also of significance is this dangling carrot: a proposed $3,100 license fee to be paid annually by participating restaurants.

While the potential economic benefits of Sunday sales loom large and bear consideration, safety and moral issues are weighing heavily in the minds of many voters, as well.

There are people concerned about studies that demonstrate an increase in alcohol-related car crashes on Sundays following the lifting of alcohol sales bans.

There are others who point to studies that show no increase at all in DUIs in some cities with relaxed Sunday sales laws.

And we can’t deny the cultural codes embedded in our current regulations that continue to have relevance for some and no relevance for others.

It’s a fact that our Sunday blue laws date back to the Puritans who enforced a singular, strict and sweeping moral code upon an entire populace. While, thankfully, such stringent measures have relaxed as we’ve settled into our melting pot, there are people in our community who support Sunday sales restrictions based upon their religious convictions.

This has shaken and stirred sensitivities, fostering feelings of unfairness amongst members of other faith communities as well as the non-religious.

And when Sunday blue laws are periodically lifted to accommodate a holiday or special event, resentments are only fortified by what is seen by many as a contradictory system.

The reasons for supporting or opposing Sunday alcohol sales in restaurants are diverse, but one thing is consistent: everybody has an opinion.

We agree that it’s time to let those opinions be expressed through a referendum.