Group prepares to fight Sunday alcohol sales referendum
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DUI Family
DUI Family
Ben Greene/WBTW
Published: September 16, 2008
Updated: September 17, 2008
FLORENCE — Florence resident Chad Parker recalls the Friday night in April 1995 when he and his wife, Pam, were struck head-on by a drunken driver.
Parker told his story Tuesday to a crowd of Florence residents who oppose a referendum that could allow Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants within Florence city limits.
“Please vote no,” he told the audience of nearly 30 people. “Give us at least one safe day. Everyone’s got a right to do what they want to do, but not at a cost to everyone else.”
Members of the group Strengthening Florence Families, who held their organizational meeting Tuesday, hope that Parker’s story will hit home and encourage voters to turn down the referendum.
“It’s too late to change what city council did, but it’s not too late to change what the voters of Florence will do,” said Florence attorney Gary Finklea, who was elected chairman at the meeting.
Southside Baptist Church pastor Jim Crooks was elected vice chairman.
The group recently launched the Web site http://votenoflorence.com in opposition of the referendum.
It plans to distribute small pamphlets, yard signs and “commitment to vote no” sign-up sheets. It also wants to develop a video presentation and run advertising in print, television and online media.
Hospitality Association of South Carolina President Tom Sponseller told Florence City Council in July that allowing restaurants to sell alcohol on Sundays would increase sales by $650,000 a month.
Finklea said the hospitality association is a Columbia-based group with little connection to Florence, which he estimates would gain only $280,000 a year in taxes from Sunday alcohol sales.
Finklea also said the group wants to know what the cost to the city will be. About $13 million — half of the city’s general fund budget — goes toward police and fire protection.
City council candidate Glynn Willis, who opposes Sunday alcohol sales, attended the meeting. Mayoral candidates Rocky Pearce and Stephen J. Wukela were unable to attend because of scheduling conflicts, but have said they oppose Sunday alcohol sales, as well.
County councilman Morris Anderson spoke at the meeting.
“I’m not going to put my religious convictions on anyone else,” Anderson said. “My concern, even though I don’t live in the city, is that driving under the influence is a terrible thing to do.”
Bill Monroe, pastor of Florence Baptist Temple, said he is not presenting the issue as a spiritual matter of “abstinence versus moderation” in alcohol consumption.
Instead, the group is opposed to the 16 additional hours of alcohol sales in restaurants and bars — extending from midnight to 2 a.m. Sunday, with establishments reopening at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 30 at the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library, 509 S. Dargan St., Florence.
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Reader Reactions
Tarzan:
What other people do on Sunday is not your concern, so what does it matter to benefit or not? What makes you so special that your beliefs should keep others from doing what they want. I am SURE all of the bars and restaurants mentioned in this entire post would love to be able to add alcohol to their Sunday menus. So what if the restaurants are packed, we live for capitalism and I think it is the right for bar/restaurant owners to be able to make more money by adding the one menu item they have all week to the menu for Sunday as well. And just because the places are packed on Sunday, I bet only 30-40% of those patrons are coming from church. Most people want to have a drink of wine with their steak on Sunday, or a beer with their burger, because they work Monday through Saturday and Sunday is the only time they can go out for lunch and dinner or something, you have no clue as to every reason. Also, you say that you have yet to see how it can be good for the community…. There is NO way to tell, because I bet people that want to OPEN establishments don’t because of the whole Sunday thing and they just go to another city. But see, that is my belief, capitalism and freedom, and I am not cramming it down your throat. So your argument is moot.
tarzanjane90
On top of not wanting individuals to have a glass of wine with there steak on Sundays .. YOU NOW would like us to write our post in a way that you find appropriate.
Quit telling every body how they should conduct themselves.
It’s OK to tell your children what to do ... but you do not tell grown adults what to do.
Big Orange writes:
Can you tell us which restaurants are currently closed on Sundays solely because of an inability to sell alcohol? Applebee’s, Olive Garden, Chili’s, and Longhorn are all packed out on Sundays after church-they’re not hurting for sales, IMHO. Any restaurant that needs Sunday alcohol sales to survive probably isn’t selling very good food.
Apple Annie’s and The Swamp are two restaurants that are not open on Sunday’s because they cannot serve alcohol.
“They are not hurting for sales”? I’m sure you think they are just getting stinking rich .. don’t you. Have you ever owned a business? I doubt you have.
“Any restaurant that needs Sunday alcohol sales to survive probably isn’t selling very good food. “
What a moronic statement to make. It makes no sense at all.
Lisa: on your comment “Take your nose out of your bible and google “Business 101”. You could learn alot”
First off, I will never take my nose out of my Bible, because that is what I live my life by. Not a puppet for my preacher, but I am a “puppet” for my Jesus. If he could be stripped bare, beaten, spit upon and die for me (and you, by the way); the least I can do is spend time with him each day in prayer, thanksgiving, asking forgiveness for my failings and spend time in His word. Maybe you could learn a lot from reading His word also, just a thought.
Secondly: I am sorry, but you still didn’t answer the question; because, if you ever go out on Sundays, all of the restaurants are open. The only ones that don’t open are the sports BARS, because they are primarily BARS and don’t make a lot of money on food sales any day of the week, since they make their money on alcohol. So, again, where’s the benefit for Florence? You stated that the sales benefit the STATE your statement was:
“generating more revenue for the state (through taxes…“
I have noticed your other comments left on other threads and I cannot understand why you cannot just state your beliefs without constantly putting people down? You started off just stating your opinion, which is fine, then you have to go and use such negative put-downs “puppet” for my church, “ok to think different” from my pastor. In another thread you stated: “Be very careful of individuals such as Mr. Crooks when choosing a church. What’s next? Pulling the snakes out like they do in Georgia?
Stay clear of Southside Baptist Church! “
I am starting to think that you just don’t like Pastor Crooks, or you don’t like Southside Church or you just don’t like churches at all.
You don’t know me anymore than I know you, so I would appreciate it if you could just state your facts and opinions without being so nasty, it is not an appealing quality in a human being.
Also to iamepic :
Again, Bible reading is not on the referendum. We are talking about this referendum. Maybe next year we can get the required Bible reading on a new referendum. Also, I am not tring to get anyone to CONFORM to my ideas, I just would like for some of you who want this referendum to pass to explain how the Sunday alcohol sales will benefit the community and families. I have yet to see a legitimate benefit.
Thank you.
Lisa wrote: “By allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday’s, more restaurants will be open ... generating more revenue for the state (through taxes) and for the employees.“
Can you tell us which restaurants are currently closed on Sundays solely because of an inability to sell alcohol? Applebee’s, Olive Garden, Chili’s, and Longhorn are all packed out on Sundays after church-they’re not hurting for sales, IMHO. Any restaurant that needs Sunday alcohol sales to survive probably isn’t selling very good food.
I have to say… it is funny to me, how the “holier than thou” posters on this topic always post LONG dribble about god, and the bible, and DUIs and all that nonsense. What happended to FREEDOM? This is not supposed to be communistic, and that is what the bible thumpers want to do. And, before you think it, yes, I do go to church, every Sunday, and I doubt I miss my spot in heaven because of letting people drink on Sunday’s. Go mind your own business and don’t drink on Sunday if you don’t want to. What gives you the right to make everyone CONFORM to your ideas and beliefs? I now feel dumber from reading your garbage. Why don’t you just push town council to make the bible required reading for the population of Florence?
tarzanjane90 writes: “Can you tell me how drinking alcohol on Sundays is going to be good for the community?“
Yes I can tell you tarzan jane. By allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday’s, more restaurants will be open ... generating more revenue for the state (through taxes) and for the employees.
The employees will then take their hard earned money and put it back into the economy. They might even give more to the church. WOW! That would be real neat .. wouldn’t it?
Take your nose out of your bible and google “Business 101”. You could learn alot.
By the way .. I don’t fault you for your beliefs. You sound like a puppet for the church. It’s ok to think a little different than your Pastor!
Can you tell me how drinking alcohol on Sundays is going to be good for the community? This will just provide more possibilities of more DUI crashes and fatalities. I guess if you have never had to deal with the aftermath of an alcohol related accident, then you really don’t care, you just want another 16 hours to legally drink even more alcohol; and those of us who have lost people we know and love to drunk drivers are just narrow-minded, religious freaks trying to ruin your “fun”.
I pray that you will never know the devastation that alcohol CAN have on victims of DUI crashes and on families of alcoholics. Please note, I did say “CAN have” not “WILL have”, I am not THAT naive.
I know you are going to want to know why I don’t try to get alcohol banned all 7 days of the week. Well, I would, if I could; but, that is not on this referendum. I am trying to stick to what THIS referendum is about and not attack everything I think is “wrong” with Florence.
We are not trying to take away your choice to drink alcohol, we just don’t want it to be available in restaurants one day a week. We are not stupid enough to believe that if alcohol is not sold in restaurants on Sunday that you will come to church. If you don’t go now, I don’t see how this referendum would change that whichever way it ends up going.
As far as “paying” to pray. I pray to God every day, in the privacy of my home, without “paying” anyone. I give a TITHE to my church each week, because the BIBLE, not a preacher, instructs us, as Christians, to do so. I go to church on Sundays to WORSHIP God, not “pay” someone, because the BIBLE tells us that God’s people SHOULD meet and worship God corporately, so as to help us be accountable to one another and to meet with fellow believers who can help us when we fall down. Guess what, we Christians are not perfect and we know it, but we are FORGIVEN, praise God. Now, you may not believe in tithing, praying, reading the Bible, going to church, and that’s your choice; I am not asking you to stay sober on Sunday and send your drinking money in to the churches. Please people, stick to the referendum, not your personal vendettas against churches, their pastors and their members. We are not trying to push you into our churches, but you are welcome at any time, YOUR choice.
I also think you would receive more respect on your opinion if YOU would not be so “narrow-minded” and judgmental to those who differ in your opinion. You can present your opinion like an intelligent adult, without calling people names like bullies do.
I have yet, on these threads, to see a legitimate, referenced, researched opinion as to why it would benefit Florence, as a city, to allow these sales.
How will Florence be a better place because people can go to a restaurant on Sunday and order a cocktail?
Florence is already growing exponentially, again, WITHOUT Sunday alcohol sales. (Heinz, Monster, QVC, restaurants—Chili’s, Indigo Joes, Olive Garden, Longhorn) What is the benefit?
This referendum is about Sunday alcohol sales, not blue laws, before I hear on here how the stores are not allowed to open before 1:30.
My mom waitressed for 36 years and she said that Sundays were her best tip day because the restaurants were so full with church folks. She’s been retired from waitressing for 20 years, so suffice it to say, she never waitressed at a time when alcohol sales were allowed.
Plead your case, if you must, but make it a legitimate case with legitimate concerns and legitimate facts, presented in an intelligent, adult manner; not just an attack on people you don’t like because they are different from you.
Thank you.
The website needs some work-it looks way too amateurish. The all capital letter font has got to go. I fear it is detracting from the message.
I am really sorry for what happened to the Parker’s, but that was on a Friday night and you are right, people should not drink and drive, BUT, you and the rest of the holier then thou have no right to judge me or anyone else. What we want to do is no ones business but ours. The person who wrote to me and said that I probley don’t go to church, what does that have to do with wanting a drink with my dinner on Sunday. And since when do I have to pay a church to pray to God. I don’t believe in driving drunk and when I do drink I DON’T get drunk and neither does my husband. We have plenty of CLUBS around here and TOPLESS ones at that if you want a drink on Sunday so don’t condem the servers who would like to make a little more money on Sunday. I wasn’t put on the earth to judge you, so don’t judge other people.
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