After voters in Bethel’s precinct C voted to allow alcohol sales within that precinct, residents of the village can expect to see beer and wine available locally either at the end of 2006 or the beginning of 2007.
In order to sell alcohol, the affected stores will need to proceed with state regulations to obtain a liquor license and prepare their stores, and that, said Chris Munafo, owner and manager of Jubliee in Bethel, takes some time.
“It takes about 10 weeks,” said Munafo. “We’ll start sales as soon as we receive our license from the state. We don’t have to do a lot of training. There are a lot of state regulations involving scanning of alcohol, that person must be 18, but with our management up front, we look to handle that with ease. We’ll have beer, wine and anything state approved other than actual liquor.”
The vote passed in the precinct to allow a number of local businesses, such as the grocery store and some convenience stores, to sell beer, wine and wine coolers. However, voters denied Sunday sales of the alcoholic beverages. The vote, however, has met with some confusion as residents of the village who live outside of precinct C have complained about not being able to vote on the measure.
Russ Whitley, a Tate Township resident who helped organize the ballot measure to vote on alcohol sales, explains.
“A lot of these people don’t understand that the vote took place in precinct C,” said Whitley. “I’m getting bombarded by people from outside the village and other precincts wanting to know why they weren’t allowed to vote on this. It’s just self-explanatory. Some are extremely irate.”
Whitley spoke to the village council earlier this month, wishing both to thank residents for voting on the measure and to inform the council of harassing phone calls he’s received since the vote was completed. Whitley, himself a non-drinker, said that he wanted to allow sales as a means of improving the economics of the village. Allowing residents to buy alcohol locally will keep money in the village.
“Even though I don’t drink alcohol, I would like to personally thank everyone who voted in last week’s election,” said Whitley. “Voters in precinct C voted to allow weekday alcohol sales. As always, the voters make the final decision. No one person is responsible for the passage or failure of any one ballot issue. As I have said in the past, I appreciate everyone’s support throughout the past year of preparation for this ballot. On the other hand, I do not appreciate the many, some of whom have been extremely irate, phone calls to my home, business and cell phone from disgruntled townspeople. There have even been verbal attacks while I was inside other local businesses. While I do understand that some are disappointed by the voter’s response, please remember, everyone in precinct C had an equal opportunity to vote their conscience on this issue. The voters have spoken, the issue has been settled. Let’s move forward.”