New Albany OKs beer sales
Vote by residents applies to businesses within city limits
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Buzz up!Twitter NEW ALBANY — New Albany residents have voted in favor of beer and light wine sales within the city limits.
The turnout for Tuesday's vote represented more than 40 percent of voters on city rolls.
Unofficial returns were 1,175 for and 991 against, with only six affidavit votes left to count, The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported.
The vote does not change Union County's dry status outside of New Albany.
It marks the first victory for imbibers in the city since Prohibition. There was one short time in the 1950s when an election technicality made beer legal, but the sheriff then was reputed to have threatened any businesses that tried to sell it.
Numerous Mississippi cities have relaxed liquor prohibition laws in the last year, and supporters say it helps bring more restaurants and increase business in existing ones.
"I have worked in Tupelo before, and the business there is growing," supporter Steven Gibson said. "They're getting more restaurants, more businesses, and I think we should have the same thing."
Opponents repeatedly have voiced moral objections to any alcohol.
"It's going to have a negative effect in our city and even far-reaching into our county," Victory Church pastor Mark Bishop said. "We don't see any positive results from bringing beer into our city."
Police Chief David Grisham said, "We'll enforce the law and go from there. It's probably going to make more work for me, but that's my job, and we'll do what we can."
Legal sales of beer and wine coolers in restaurants and retail stores are still several weeks away. A special Board of Aldermen meeting has been set for Jan. 21 to address the issue.
"The aldermen have to decide what restrictions, if any, they want to place on it - hours, days, distance from churches and schools, and whether it is to be sold cold or hot," City Attorney Bobby Carter said.