Signatures have been collected to put the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Amendment on the November ballot, which would legalize statewide alcohol distribution.
Little Rock attorney David Couch is pushing the initiative. Couch is chairman of Let Arkansas Decide and Our Community, Our Dollars, two organizations that have been advocating for liquor restrictions to be lifted in Arkansas counties.
The ballot description for the proposed amendment, assigned by the attorney general’s office, states “the manufacture, sale, distribution and transportation of intoxicating liquors may be regulated, but not prohibited, by the General Assembly; and that all laws which conflict with the amendment, including laws providing for a local option election (wet-dry election) to determine whether intoxicating liquors may be sold or not sold, are repealed to the extent that they conflict with the amendment.”
The amendment needs more than 78,000 signatures to make the ballot in November.
Senior public administration major Michael Wallace from Searcy supports the amendment.
“I watch the news regularly, so I’ve been following the issue,” Wallace said. “I feel like this amendment will expand the economy. Honestly, it will create tax revenue for Arkansas, and extra tax revenue can never hurt.”
Despite the current alcohol ban, there are establishments in White County that have liquor licenses.
“The responsibility is on the places and the businesses themselves,” Wallace said. “If alcohol is available, it can be regulated, and you can keep people from abusing it. Close to half the counties (in Arkansas) are wet already, so the state has the regulations in place. This amendment should create a smooth transition that will end up boosting our economy.”
Kathy Helpenstill, assistant professor of social work, thinks the county should choose its status, not the legislature.
“I’ve raised my kids in dry counties,” Helpenstill said. “And when we go to counties that are wet, it raises a huge difference in awareness. I know people will argue that it’s safer to get alcohol here, rather than having to drive to get it, but I think that’s an excuse. Accessibility is a deterrent in itself.”
Helpenstill admits, however, that there are two sides to every coin.
“If this is what the county wants, that’s fine,” Helpenstill said. “It’s true, (beverage) tax revenues collected are funneled back out to beneficial programs. But at best, the amendment would balance out the problems it creates.”
