The dry votes prevailed in three Alabama communities Nov. 4 as voters won the fight against the continued expansion of alcohol sales.
In Hartselle, the largest dry city in the state, citizens voted for the fourth time in 12 years to keep the area free from alcohol sales with 231 more dry votes than wet.
Walter Blackman, pastor of East Highland Baptist Church, Hartselle, served as co-chairman of A Better Way political action agency and the campaign U Prayed.
Hartselle has been successful in keeping the area free of alcohol sales for years, Blackman said, because the fight has not been “against alcohol but against alcohol sales.”
“We have had a broad spectrum of people help keep Hartselle dry. … We’ve asked people to pray about their vote and about their decision and about those affected by it. But we’ve also not isolated the issue to only a church thing or a Christian war against alcohol,” Blackman said, noting that several dry voters drink alcohol themselves but they don’t approve of the sale of alcohol in the area.
Wet supporters often say people will stop moving to Hartselle if they vote dry but the opposite is true, according to Blackman.
“People come to Hartselle because we’re dry and want to move their families here and the crime is among the lowest in the state.”
In Rainsville the dry’s prevailed as the “no” votes tallied 770 compared to 741 in favor of legalizing sales.
And Locust Fork saw the “no” votes win by 221 to 122 to remain a dry area.
‘Costs to society’
Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), said alcohol proponents fail to discuss the “costs to society that are associated with increased alcohol sales.”
“‘Wet forces’ never mention that for every $1 of revenue that comes into the community, it costs $15–18 to clean up the devastation that results from an increase in domestic violence cases, drunk driving and other accidents. Alcohol does not solve problems; it creates problems for cities and communities.
“ALCAP rejoices with Rainsville, Hartselle and Locust Fork communities as they voted to keep ‘big alcohol’ out of their communities,” Godfrey said.
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