Logan County voters will decide on March 1 if alcoholic beverages can be served on Sundays and selected holidays for on site consumption. Several business owners are hoping to gain the majority vote.
Logan County is one of 18 Oklahoma counties that restrict liquor by the drink on Sundays, but business owners are wanting to change that by allowing liquor sales to seven days a week.
“I probably lost $10,000 in sales on one day because they (customers) went to Edmond and Oklahoma City to spend their liquor money on a Sunday,” owner of Gage’s Steakhouse Ronnie Gage said referring to a movie crew filming in Guthrie.
Click to view the ballot question. Related story: View the upcoming ballots in the March 1 presidential primary
Business owners approached the Board of County Commissioners nearly a year ago looking for the proposition be added to the ballot. Commissioners agreed the people should have the right to decide, but wanted to wait until a presidential primary ballot to avoid paying for a special election.
Along with Sundays, sales would be allowed on Fourth of July, Labor Day Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day, if approved.
Alcohol sales, however, would not be allowed on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day. A decision made by organizers, who say they hope this will help with the church community whom they say opposes the alcohol sales on Sundays.
Related story: Early voting begins on Thursday, February 25
Those against the proposal have asked several questions, including will it bring more drunk drivers? Organizers respond by saying, “No. People are going to do what they want to do, but will go somewhere other than Logan County.”
Nash Martin with Cimarron National Golf Course says they lose weekend tournaments due to the current county law.
“There are a lot of golf tournaments that we could have on Sundays that have gone to other courses 20 minutes down the road,” Martin said. “A lot of people drink alcohol. Don’t have to like it, but it does cost golf courses and restaurants revenue.”
Helen Price with the Lazy E says patrons are moving across the county line for the full experience.
“If they can’t have that full experience, they are not going to stay here (Logan County),” Price said.
The commissioners discussed liquor by the drink conversation begins at 1:25 into the video.
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