This ordinance change makes perfect sense. Eufaula is trying to revive downtown. There is nothing wrong with a restaurant being allowed to serve a glass of wine with your food. It will likely get more people to go out and eat at a real restaurant.
Council could vote Monday on a proposed amendment that, if approved, would allow alcohol sales at downtown restaurants, even if they are within 300 feet of a church. The council will meet Monday at 5:15 PM in the Eufaula Police Department courtroom (formerly city hall). The public is invited to attend. (...) That would give downtown restaurants more flexibility in serving alcohol, but it would not allow bars or lounges, according to city officials. Local resident Rich Daniels has already announced plans to open an Italian restaurant in a vacant Broad Street building sometime this year. It would include a period bar. (...) A small group of Eufaula pastors came to Thursday's city council work session, asking the council not to amend the city's current ordinance regarding alcohol sales near churches.
Usually I would recommend to anyone to listen to their pastor. But not in this case. Maybe my European roots are showing? But a beer or a glass of wine is in no way detrimental to most people, and can actually have great health benefits, even though this fact is not mentioned often by the mainstream media. Alcoholics should stay away from alcohol of course, but we don't punish Dunkin' Donuts either just because its food is dangerous to some diabetics and obese people.
