Beech Tree News Network

Dear Editor:
There is a great deal of talk concerning the wet/dry vote on January 26th.  I wanted to share some myths of the benefits of legalizing alcohol sales in Butler County.
MYTH
Having alcohol sales will decrease the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol and make our roads safer.
FACT
Each of the surrounding counties that have alcohol sales have significantly higher rates of driving under the influence than does Butler County or surrounding counties that do not have alcohol sales.

MYTH
Alcohol sales will bring significant revenue to our city and county governments through license and regulatory fees.
FACT
Larger cities do have the ability to charge regulatory fees on alcohol sales but the population of Morgantown would have to increase 22% in order for us to be able to charge additional fees to offset the additional mandated expenses incurred from policing, regulating and administering alcohol sales.  If all eligible businesses (17) chose to purchase a license to sell alcohol the total revenue would be $12,800.00.  Several businesses have already committed to not purchase the license.

MYTH
The additional occupational and net profit taxes generated from the businesses that sale alcohol will significantly increase revenue to our city and county governments.
FACT
Alcohol sales do have the potential to bring revenue into the county from occupational taxes paid by those working where liquor is sold and net profit taxes from those businesses selling liquor; assuming those establishments choose to comply with occupational and net profit tax regulations.  However the cost of hiring an Alcohol Beverage Administrator, which is mandated by law, will probably far exceed any revenue generated.  Additional cost will be the cost of equipment, transportation, office space, utilities, communication and other technology.  
If each of the locations that qualify to purchase a liquor license did so, if salaries for those working in those establishments were $500,000 annually and if net profits of those establishments were $500,000 annually (this would be based off 2.5 million in total annual sales of alcohol), total revenue to the county would be approximately $22,800 which would probably not cover the mandated cost.  The citizens of Butler County will have to make up any shortfall by raising other taxes or decreasing services. 

MYTH
More factories will locate in Butler County if we choose to allow liquor sales.
FACT
There is no legitimate basis for this myth.  Can anyone name a factory that is considering locating here based solely alcohol sales?  Our local factories and those of surrounding communities are experiencing problems in filling existing positions.  The problem is the lack of available workforce and not the lack of alcohol sales.
 
MYTH
Popular restaurant chains will consider locating in Butler County if we allow alcohol sales.
FACT
With the exception of Warren County, popular restaurant chains have not located in any of the surrounding counties that have alcohol sales even though each of these counties have larger populations and could more easily support a large chain restaurant.

MYTH
Citizens of Butler County have the constitutional right to buy alcohol in Butler County.
FACT
The 21st amendment provides states the opportunity to decide alcohol sales within their jurisdiction. Kentucky has chosen like most states to allow local communities to determine legal alcohol sales. Citizens collected necessary signatures to exercise their right to bring this measure to vote, which Butler County will have on January 26.

MYTH
Having alcohol sales in our county will not increase its existing misuse or abuse.
FACT
One of the factors that increase the risk of becoming an alcoholic is inexpensive, easily accessible alcohol.  (American Association of Psychiatry-2013)
Prevention of alcoholism is possible by regulating and limiting the sale of alcohol.  (World Health Organization-2015)
Making alcohol more expensive and less available and banning advertising are highly cost effective strategies to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol.  (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Study by Anderson, Chisholm and Fuhr)
Restricting availability of alcohol is an effective measure to prevent alcohol attributable harm (i. e. Violence and/or abuse) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:  Popova, Geisbrecht, et al.

MYTH
According to a recent WET supporter radio campaign ad, if you vote “YES” to alcohol sales, you are voting for safer schools.
FACT
It is ridiculous to say that making alcohol more accessible in our community will make our schools safer.  Our county recently received a $625,000 grant to fight the negative effects of alcohol and substance abuse.  One of the two major goals of the grant is to “reduce youth substance use-alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs.”  There is no evidence that making alcohol more accessible will make our schools safer. 

MYTH
Alcohol sales will make Butler County a better place to live.
FACT
Based on the information above it should be evident that making alcohol more accessible will increase its abuse.  Consider the following human cost of alcohol abuse:
43% of US adults have been exposed to alcoholism in the family
6.6 million Children live in households with at least one alcoholic parent
One-half of all traffic fatalities and one-third of all traffic injuries are related to the abuse of alcohol.
Children of parents who abuse alcohol experience low self-esteem, feeling of guilt and despair, loneliness and fear of abandonment, chronic depression and high levels of anxiety and stress.
Alcohol is a factor in 40% of ALL violent crimes. (Dept. of Justice)
Alcohol, more than any illegal drug, was found to be closely associated with violent crimes including murder, rape, assault, child and spousal abuse.  (National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence)
Statistics related to alcohol use by violent offenders generally show that about half of all homicides and assaults are committed when the offender, victim or both have been drinking.  Among violent crimes, with the exception of robberies, the offender is far more likely to have been drinking that under the influence of any other drugs.  (Dept. of Justice)
4 of 10 child abusers reported they had been drinking at the time of the abuse.  (National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse)
More than one half of the adults in the US have a close family member who has abused alcohol or is addicted to the drug.  (The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
Among spouse abuse victims, 3 out of 4 incidents involved an offender who had been drinking.  (Bureau of Justice Statistics)
The county recently received a grant for $625,000.00 to fight the negative effects of alcohol, tobacco and prescription drug abuse.  If alcohol sales will make our county a better place to live, why do we need a $625,000.00 grant to fight its negative effects?
THE SALE OF ALCOHOL WILL NOT MAKE BUTLER COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE BUT IF IT BECOMES MORE AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE THE HUMAN COST WILL RISE AS WELL!

Sincerely,
Bruce Jennings