Everything You Wanted To Know About Wet-Dry Election But Were Afraid to Ask

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Apr. 5 2010 at 9:30 AM

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As we glance ahead to the city council's briefing agenda for Wednesday, we see they'll take up the potential local option election on November 2 that would result in the entirety of the city getting wet -- which is to say, the petition drive demanding beer and alcohol sales citywide. The part you're probably most interested in begins on Page 24 of the briefing: the frequently asked questions, each of which has an answer provided by Dallas City Attorney Tom Perkins.

Such as: "If the election is successful, when will alcohol sales be allowed?" Well, since you asked: "Legalization takes effect at the time that the results of the election are officially canvassed. But it takes about 45-60 days to obtain permits from the TABC." Or: "Will the election change the zoning where bars (alcoholic beverage establishments) are allowed?" Short answer: No. Or: "Will the election affect where stores that sell alcohol are allowed?" That's a two-parter: "Yes, if the store sells only beer or wine. No, if the package store sells hard liquor."

And for those Friends who've asked about beer barns, there's this climactic Q&A at the briefing's end: "Q: Can the city impose additional regulations on businesses that sell alcohol, such as convenience stores, beer barns, or drive-through windows? A: No." Take a shot if you guessed that falls under TABC's jurisdiction as well.

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It's not exactly like passage of this issue will turn Dallas into the Wild West. It will just give all citizens the same right now enjoyed only by a few: To pick up a six pack or a nice vintage for dinner along with the groceries instead of having to make an extra stop at a cross-town liquor store.
Why are bars not concerned with this vote? It does NOT eliminate 'dry' Dallas. Any restaurant with over 50% alcohol sales and all bars will still be private clubs using a membership system. It just adds to the confusion. This statement is misleading and false: "that would result in the entirety of the city getting wet" Be careful what you vote for....Oak Cliff (old JP 7) will likely remain as dry as it is today, no matter what the outcome. Progress Dallas is more like Disenfranchise Dallas.
Except perhaps with spelling and puctuation.
Why do the citizens citywide get to determin what happens in other neighborhoods? Just because Whole Foods and Kroger tell the new residents in the gentrifying neighborhoods they need booze sales to make a store possible this is a big issue. Now Mr. and Mrs. White want to move to Oak Cliff and have service like they would on the M Streets, but the longtime residents of that neighborhood might not want booze. Since they cant get it passed in the precinct they make it a citywide issue. What people arent telling you is the HOBO factor, no booze no hobos no pan handeling. I'm a drinker and according to the map Ive always lived near where drinks are served, I dont have a problem.
<i>"but no buying that 6 pack of Michelob Ultra before 12PM, on a Sunday, that would be bad for some reason."</i> I'm all about Vodka and Gin, talk to my friend about the beer.
"but no buying that 6 pack of Michelob Ultra before 12PM, on a Sunday, that would be bad for some reason." That has everything to do with the beer and not the hour.
If the laws pass, will it be kosher if I'm disheveled and red-eyed, wasted of form and blasted of cheek, shriveled and testy, now a barker of dark incomprehensible grievances, now a glassy-eyed buffoon who engages in unspeakable pantomimes at major intersections and occasionally becomes a seething volcano of inexplicable rage, only to crash back down into a kind of placid and smelly-socked self-pity? Or no?
Given that a guy who was out on parole following multiple DUI convictions killed two people early Sunday, is restricting sales to a small, centralized part of the city a good thing? Neighborhood issues aside, the potential sales tax boost will have bean counters at city and county offices excited enough to get it passed.
I live south of the Trinity (Southwest Oak Cliff) and I have NEVER wanted the sale of beer and alcohol in my neighborhood. If the city would stop setting up TIF districts (taking revenue out of the general fund) and us that money for operations, our budget shortage would not be as much.
Matter of fact, I've left messages for all the commissioners. Including JWP.
Has anyone asked any of the county commissioners (as in specifically those with initials JWP) if they plan to sue to stop the city from changing this law south of the Trinity River should (the petition drive become successful) a vote by the people say "Yea". Let's face it the last drive was not interfered with by the city, it was a state judge (with our county commissioners) that put the kabosh on the election last time.
I signed the petition the other day. As for blue laws, i can't think of any time that i've been affected by them so i couldn't care less if they keep them.
As long as I can buy a $12 bottle of beer from Whole Foods I really could care less. Go Shiner.
Ive said this for quite awhile John M. I think the real issue is going to need to be tackled on the state level by getting rid of these idiotic "blue laws" on all alcohol sales (beer/wine/spirits), especially with the prohibitions when it comes to where/when it can be sold. Ive been to other states like CA and NM, where I can find a bottle of Jack in the local grocery store on a sunday morning. Sure, im for hour laws like selling between 8a-12mid just for good measure, but putting in prohibitions because someones selling these products by a school or a church is sheer stupidity from a bygone era.
You know who else prohibits liquor sales. The taliban.
John M, look at the bright side... you can still buy Xanax and Percodan anytime, day or night.
It seems like we are just making a tiny dent in a system that is already profoundly screwed up. The other week I was at the grocery store on Sunday at about 12PM, picked up my groceries for the week, figured I'd buy some beer while I was there. I say about 12PM, see, it was 15 before 12PM so I was unable to buy the beer for my house that I don't even personally drink. So, I could go home and get sloshed on the bottle of vodka in my freezer, walk down a block from my house to a bar and get drunk there, wait 15 minutes and buy a box of cheap wine and get trashed off that, but no buying that 6 pack of Michelob Ultra before 12PM, on a Sunday, that would be bad for some reason.