Voters pass 18 out of 22 alcohol wet-dry elections on Saturday
WASHINGTON, DC – The trend of Texas communities voting to allow local alcohol sales picked up steam Saturday after 18 out of 22 local alcohol elections passed, according to the Distilled Spirits Council, which attributed the wins to consumer interest in modern convenience and increased revenue without raising taxes.
“Consumer attitudes have come a long way since Prohibition,” said Dale Szyndrowksi, Council Vice President, noting that states around the country have modernized 1930s-era alcohol laws to keep pace with today’s economy. “These elections reflect modern demographics, and we expect the trend will continue as voters and policymakers seek convenience and revenue, respectively.”
Szyndrowksi pointed to the Plano election as the most significant victory (65%-35%), noting that Plano is a populous suburb north of Dallas in one of America’s fastest-growing counties.
The Texas Trend
According to the Distilled Spirits Council, 18 out of 22 localities voted on Saturday to allow alcohol sales – going from “dry” areas to “wet” areas (beer, wine and/or spirits; on- and/or off-premise). After 26 out of 28 successful alcohol elections in November 2012, and 15 out of 15 in May 2012, the tally of victorious wet-dry elections in the last year comes to 59 out of 65, for a 91% success rate. Since 2004 Texans have taken to polling stations to pass 509 out of 641 alcohol elections, for a 79% success rate. Click here to see Saturday’s election results.
“Prohibition-era laws don’t make sense in today’s economy, and that’s why voters across Texas are striking them down for good,” Szyndrowksi said.
Momentum for Sunday Alcohol Sales
Szyndrowksi also noted that wet-dry elections aren’t the only alcohol issue voters care about and pointed to the End Texas Blue Laws social media campaign which has garnered over 20,000 Facebook fans in 2013. The campaign’s primary goal this year is to pass House Bill 421 – legislation allowing package stores the opportunity to open on Sundays, the second busiest shopping day of the week. According to Szyndrowksi, 38 states allow Sunday liquor sales, including 16 since 2002.