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Local alcohol sales policies being explored |
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Written by Staff Reports
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Tuesday, 17 February 2009 |
Initiated by the Hotel/Motel Association Committee of the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce, a group of Nolan County concerned citizens has formed a committee to explore the possibilities and problems changing the current alcohol sales policies in Nolan County.
Currently the hotels and motels located in Sweetwater and Nolan County cannot provide all the services required to host many conventions seeking locations for their various organizations. Specifically, under current TABC rules, they cannot provide alcohol sales in their facilities. The Hotel/Motel Association also reports concern that they were also losing wind energy business for the same reasons.
The exploratory group calling themselves EOC (Expanded Options Committee) recently discussed the pros, cons, and tasks before them to change current regulations. Currently the sale of alcohol beverages for off premise consumption is legal. Sale of alcoholic beverages by the drink is illegal unless it is a membership only club. Because of this limitation, several well known franchise restaurants have opted not to open restaurants along the I-20 corridor in Nolan County. The change in this law would also allow the many wonderful restaurants we have in our area to sell alcoholic beverages if they choose to do so.
Another concern discussed was the fact that both Taylor County and Scurry Counties have changed their laws to allow the sales of alcoholic beverages at their coliseum complexes. Both of those facilities are in direct competition with our Nolan County Coliseum.
Should this change come to pass, it also would allow the sales of alcohol beverages at Lake Sweetwater and Oak Creek Lake, thus giving the local lake stores a possible year round business opportunity.
After reviewing the issues, the EOC chose to proceed with the required applications and petitions to call for an election so that the citizens of Nolan can all express their choice the American way, by voting. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 February 2009 )
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