Take Me To Post Comment Form "Rincon looks to level alcohol playing field"
(http://www.effinghamherald.net/)
In what they call a move to make their city more competitive with surrounding jurisdictions, Rincon City Council members approved the first reading of a handful of changes to the city’s alcohol ordinance.

Among the moves are longer hours of sale and a reduction in the required percentage of food sales needed for on-premises consumption of alcohol.

Council member Paul Wendelken said a Rincon resident asked him about the impact of the proposed changes.

“I explained our goal was not to have stand-alone bars,” Wendelken said. “It is to level the playing field of where we are, compared to neighboring cities and counties.”

In approving the first reading of the amended alcohol ordinance, council members agreed to extend hours beer and wine could be sold for off-premises consumption from 7 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Current city law requires off-premises consumption to stop at 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

On-site consumption hours will be extended from 11 a.m.-midnight to 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

The city also proposes to cut the required level of food sales to qualify for Sunday alcohol sales from 55 percent to 50 percent. Wendelken estimated the restaurants the city would like to bring in have food sales of more than 80 percent.

“I don’t want them to have an excuse not to come here,” Wendelken said. “It’s to motivate them to come here.”

Once again, my spirit is grieved and a holy fear grips my heart at such spiritual ignorance. Why must we continue to open the doors to the enemy, as if we don't have enough battles to fight!

I am reminded of the Titanic, a "party-boat" built by influential men comparing themselves to others and trying to gain the attention of the elite. Their greed led them to compromise their integrity, as well as the construction of the boat's expansion joints. In a desire to meet the demands they chose a cheaper route when constructing the expansion joints of the ship, thus rendering it helpless upon impact.

IT WASN'T AN ICEBERG THAT CAUSED THE TITANIC TO SINK, BUT GREED AND COMPROMISE.

Once more I will declare: ALCOHOL IS A CHEAP WAY OF EXPANDING THE COUNTY AND JUST AS THE TITANIC...WILL SINK THE CITY OF RINCON INTO A WATERY GRAVE!

My hands tremble as I pen this... Are the lives of our children really worth LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD?

My heartfelt prayers and compassion goes out to ALL of the families involved in this terrible tragedy. May this county not be guilty of compounding their losses by inviting more temptation for its young people through the use of alcohol.


Faith Jaudon