Arab Baptists lead effort of area churches in fight against sale of alcohol

The citizens of Arab face a Nov. 7 referendum on the legalization of alcohol sales in their Marshall County city, but area Christians are fighting hard to defeat the attempt.
   
“We are not just looking for victory but a slam dunk to prevent future groups from attempting the same thing,” said Dr. John B. Crider, local physician and chairman of the local group campaigning against “going wet” — Concerned Citizens to Keep Arab Safe.
   
With more than 10 Arab churches from all denominations banding together to garner a strong no vote, “the support, the finances raised and the workers have been impressive,” he said.
   
More than 150 volunteers working to prevent the legalization of alcohol sales gathered Oct. 22 at First Baptist Church, Arab, to encourage each other in the final push toward the vote. Paul Murphy, pastor of First, Arab, organized the event and much of the effort that has taken place.
   
Randall Stoner, director of missions for Marshall Baptist Association, noted the strong interdenominational presence of the group. “It is exciting to watch,” he said. “We can pull together.”
   
Stoner also noted that Marshall Association, which consists of 100 churches including the Baptist churches in Arab, adopted a resolution in opposition of legalizing alcohol sales in Arab.
   
During the rally, Murphy encouraged volunteers to continue posting information about the vote around the city and to attend a prayer meeting at First, Arab, Nov. 6, the night before the vote.
   
Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, urged the citizens to realize how this will affect the area’s children. “The worst thing about this is what it will do to our children and young people,” he said. “If you ever vote alcohol in, then you can kiss another vote goodbye. You will never get another chance. It is a one-time vote in your lifetime.”
   
Another negative is that once a city or county “goes wet,” all alcohol-related matters are controlled by the state Legislature, Ireland said, noting recent legislation that legalized Sunday liquor sales in two counties “without a vote of the people.”
   
Sharing national and statewide statistics with the group during the rally, Ireland said that about 20 percent of all alcohol is sold to underage people and more than 30 percent is sold to people addicted to alcohol. 
   
“You are asking for trouble when you bring it in,” he said. “It will be everywhere. … And it will deplete your local economy.”
   
In Marshall County, which is dry, there are currently two cities that allow alcohol sales — Guntersville and Albertville. In the fiscal year 2004–2005 (the most recent information reported), those two cities together garnered less than $20,000 in liquor revenue, even though they sold more than $2.5 million of liquor (these amounts do not include revenue received from and money made from sales of beer), Ireland noted. Not only will the return be lower than expected, “legalizing alcohol sales will cost you money,” he noted. 
   
Research indicates that for every $1 of revenue from alcohol sales, $14.70 is spent in alcohol-related costs, Ireland added.
   
Crider agreed. “There is not a great windfall of money coming our way. $100,000 would be the most we could hope to claim,” considering Albertville with double the population of Arab generated $223,000 in taxes in the fiscal year 2004–2005, he said, noting this is before taking out the costs that come with alcohol sales. 
   
“$100,000 will be just enough for an extra police officer and car to police the added crime we will have,” Crider said. 
   
Mayor Frank Lee Cox, a member of First, Arab, agrees that legalizing alcohol would be a negative move for the city. “I love Arab and hope it stays as it is,” he said. “There’s nothing great and wonderful coming out of this. The consequences are far worse than the possible $100,000 we could gain.”
   
As far as the promises of stronger businesses, “those are mythical claims,” Crider added. “There has been much touted about the chain restaurants coming to our area if we legalize alcohol, but Boaz and Cullman have chains and they are both dry. Albertville is wet and has not yet garnered a chain restaurant.
“And that school that was supposed to be the reason for legalizing alcohol in Albertville still has not been built,” he noted.
   
Crider, a member of Gilliam Springs Baptist Church, Arab, has practiced medicine in the city for 15 years. Originally from nearby Cullman, Crider said he does not want the area to lose its “elegance and character.” 
   
“I love this town. I have raised my family here,” Crider said. “I have three kids who drive in this town.”