« Sunday alcohol-by-the-drink sales in Snellville »

Ever find yourself in a position where you are equally split with two halves of yourself pulling strongly in opposite directions?  Well, that is how I feel in thinking about Snellville's Sunday alcohol-by-the-drink sales.  I am a teetotaler myself.  When I have to deal with drunk fans at a football game or hear about someone killed by a drunk driver, I always wonder why can't some people do anything without a drink?  I can't think of a legal product that has caused more pain for so many people.  However, unlike addictive illegal drugs, I know that the majority of people can have a drink with dinner without any negative effects.

This is where my libertarian, limited-government streak rears its head.  From such a perspective, I cannot logically defend the prohibition of selling drinks with a meal in a restaurant.  This is congruent with my opposition in years past to a total smoking ban in restaurants.  Let the market decide says my free market side.  If enough people object to the sale of alcoholic drinks on a Sunday, they will patronize other restaurants, thus encouraging the restaurant owner to enact the ban him or herself.  The question is such an environment valueable enough to people for them to vote with their dollars?  

I am glad I do not live in Snellville - not just because of the shenanigans of the elected officials! - lest I would need to come to a definitive stance on this issue.  I see the logic behind overturning the ban, but as a Christian I do not feel comfortable advocating anything anything that promotes alcohol.  I do realize that even Christians sometimes drink in moderation.  I suppose a lot of my deep-seated distaste for alcohol is because because a significant incidence of alcoholism in my family's history.  In fact, I never even met one grandfather because he died of alcoholism before I was born.  Frankly, I cannot bring myself to be disappointed that the city did not overturn the ban even if that betrays my coldly, logical side.