Residents Once Again To Weigh In, With Votes, On Sunday Sales

courtesy Republican News


Oct. 30, 2008

by Megan Lahman
With Sunday sales of alcohol being on the ballot in Garrett County for the first time since 1998, the issues of morals, personal rights, and business are at the forefront.

On November 4, voters throughout the county will decide whether or not to allow restaurants and bars in their voting districts to sell alcohol with a meal. Exceptions for this vote are the voting districts of Avilton and Elbow, which have had Sunday sales for the last 10 years.

"There is no law that says you can't drink on Sundays," said Charlie Neely, senior manager of the Black Bear Tavern in McHenry, who has been in the restaurant business for 10 years.

Originally from Annapolis, Neely was quite surprised at first by the absence of alcohol sales in restaurants on Sundays. From working at other restaurants in the area, he has his fair share of stories concerning the issue. "I’ve lost business because of no Sunday sales. People would just get up and leave, all because they couldn't have a glass of wine with dinner," he said.

Currently, the Black Bear isn't open on Sundays because it wouldn’t be profitable for them to just serve food. "I’m all for Sunday sales. I feel people would stay longer in the area if they could have a beer with their food while watching the big Sunday football game or NASCAR race," said Neely.

At Uno's in Deep Creek Lake, manager Jamie Durst said that the majority of negative feedback received about the lack of Sunday sales has come from tourists, especially those who are hoping to have a beer with pizza while watching a football game. While the restaurant is opened on Sundays, the revenues made can't compare to other days, he said.

"During the summer, the restaurant along with the Honi Honi Bar generates an average of $5,000 to $6,000 a day in alcohol sales. There have been times where we’ve been just as busy on Sundays as Saturdays in terms of food sales, but the numbers for Sundays will show that we made less than Saturdays," said Durst.

As for why there are sometimes higher food sales on Sundays, Joe Brag, another manager at Uno's, said that not having the sale of alcohol doesn't detract from business. "People are going to eat regardless," he said.

In terms of the county’s economy, Jim Hinebaugh, director of the county's Department of Economic Development, said that despite no actual economic studies conducted, there is merit and value to having Sunday sales.

President of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Charlie Ross said that Sunday sales won't change the economy or society much.

"Most restaurants will admit that their sales come from alcohol more than food, they also know that the county already has a secure economy for tourism. At the same time, this is a matter of personal choice," said Ross, who believes that Garrett County will remain a safe, moral place for families regardless of voting results.

Bobbie Watson, a waitress at Uno’s, believes that the citizens' wishes should come before business. "I like the law, honestly. We do so much business without selling alcohol on Sundays. It's not worth selling on Sundays because it's what the local people want. Why make them upset?" she said.

Oakland native Thomas Doyle is opposed to the idea of Sunday sales. For the last few weeks in this newspaper, he has placed ads that feature claims about drunk driving and alcohol related deaths.

"This has nothing to do with religion, but with public safety and health. I want Garrett County to remain safe for families," said Doyle.

Garrett County Public Health Officer Rodney Glotfelty said that it doesn’t matter what day people drink, but how they do it.

"There are public health impacts with drinking. It may lessen the impact by having no Sunday sales in restaurants, but it won’t make a major difference. People can still drink at home. No matter what day it is, the key is not drinking to excess, and to not drive after having a drink," said Glotfelty.

Pastor Phillip Matthews of the Oak Grove Church of the Brethren in McHenry was unaware of the ballot measure until Doyle contacted him a month ago. Matthews' objection to Sunday sales is faith-based.

"Out of respect for the Lord, the county should strive to keep the one dry day as a dry day," said Matthews.

Along with the Oak Grove Church of the Brethren, which funded its own newspaper ad, other area churches have joined the cause against Sunday sales. Across the street from Uno's is the Deep Creek Baptist Church, which has a sign in the yard making its position known. The sign reads, "Keep Our Sundays Alcohol Free."

Black Bear Tavern patrons Pat Becker and Terri Hopler, both of Baltimore, questioned the religious influences behind the lack of Sunday sales.

"I get wine at church, so why can’t I get it when I go to Sunday brunch?" said Becker.

"We come up a couple of times a year, but we’d be here more if they would allow Sunday sales," added Hopler, whose husband is a pastor.

When asked about any resentment locals might have towards the successful tourism industry at Deep Creek Lake, Pastor Matthews said, "The most upsetting thing for locals that I’ve seen is the expectation that is placed upon them (from tourists) that they have to cater to the tourists' lifestyles."

Owner of the Long Branch Saloon and Steakhouse in Mountain Lake Park, Rebecca Williams agrees with Matthews about the feelings about Deep Creek Lake, but she disagrees with him on the issue.

"I've been in the bar and restaurant business for 30 years. There is a local resentment towards the lake, but it would be nice to see sales get approved," she said. Williams' restaurant and bar are also closed on Sundays because of not being allowed to serve alcohol.

Donna Beckman, a local patron at the saloon, said that the citizens against Sunday sales won’t buy alcohol no matter what the law is.

"I, too, am a Christian, but I believe in personal freedom," said Beckman. "If you don't like it, then don’t buy it."

Megan Lahman is a senior journalism major at the University of Maryland.

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