Ginger points us to this Houston Chronicle story about a proposed referendum in Conroe, TX to allow alcohol sales in the previously dry southern half of town:
The Conroe election will involve citywide voting on whether to allow unrestricted alcohol sales in the city's now-dry south half, as have been permitted in north Conroe for decades.
An affirmative vote would authorize the sale of beer, wine, liquor and mixed drinks in neighborhoods generally south of Texas 105.
City officials and backers of the proposal say liquor sales downtown are needed to foster development of new hotels, restaurants and entertainment spots.
Parts of Houston are dry, as are sections of Dallas. That one need only travel a few hundred feet in either city to find a liquor store or bar doesn't seem to bother those who believe "the children" will be safe as long as the local Kroger doesn't have Sam Smith's Taddy Porter on the beer aisle.
This is Conroe, however, the town where the über-reactionary Republican Leadership Council successfully lobbied to have a replica of Michelangelo's David covered with a fig leaf, and Italian Renaissance prints deemed "obscene" removed from an area restaurant:
Although Michelangelo's anatomically correct classical sculpture of "David" has been on display for almost 500 years in Florence, Italy, it took only a short time for public pressure to force Portofino's management to clothe a replica of the masterpiece -- using a plaster grape leaf.
Similarly, complaints that some classic illustrations on the interior of Buca di Beppo restaurant were pornographic has prompted management there to remove the offending art.
One wonders how many concerned Conroe residents who agree with the shrouding of David's trouser snake will be shepherding their kids to see Mel Gibson's latest exercise in ultra-violence.
The crusade by the Whitts and others has resulted in two pictures being removed from inside the restaurant. One was a picture of a classic Italian statue of naked wrestlers, and another was a well-known picture of a young boy urinating on a wall, which was shown in the men's restroom.
Apparently the Whitts don't have a problem with the Hooters restaurant on I-45 in Conroe, or the kind of, uh, "artwork" present in their men's room.
I'm not sure how the "dry" thing works outside of Texas, though I understand other states below the Mason-Dixon Line have similar ordinances. It amuses me greatly to know that, while I may have a difficult time purchasing a six-pack in Lufkin, a brief jaunt to Louisiana allows me to buy Jack Daniels in a 7-11. Priorities.
Dry neighborhoods are an annoyance: drive a few extra blocks to an alcohol-supplied store or BYOB to a restaurant. Dry counties are a different matter. Restaurants still allow drinking, provided you purchase a "membership" for that particular establishment, or - in north Texas, for example - you can buy a card that allows you to drink in participating establishments for a year.
The ability to buy beer at a grocery store and consume it in your home would seem to be safer for your kids than having to drag ass to the Bennigan's three exits down, load up, and drive home. Of course, I'm one of those fringe characters who thinks a replica of David situated on top of a for-crying-out-loud strip center Oshman's should swing free like nature (and Michelangelo) intended, so what do I know?
Next round's on me.
In unincorporated and dry parts of Texas, any group of five adults can incorporate a town, adopt the standard town charter, vote themselves a 'wet' town, and open a drive-through beer-barn, catering to the drinking classes of Lufkin, Athens, and Rusk or any similarly dry areas. Prices are higher, these 'towns' don't have a police force to keep the kids out of the beer stores (one of which is owned by the mayor, anyway...).
Now that I think about it 'Beerstore, Texas' would be a good name for one of these towns. I'd love to see the highway department signs that said "Beerstore 13". Heck, I'd steal one and my sign stealing days are long past.
Then your town could be the "Beer Capital of the World" or some other such nonsense. I remember when I used to date a girl in Corpus Christi, Texas and drive the 4 and 1/2 hours along some backroads, it seems like there were always po-dinkum towns with signs on the outskirts announcing that you were entering the "_____ Capital of the World" . Some of the more ridiculous were "Leather ..." and "Turkey ...". Maybe it is just a southern thing. Anyone else notice this phenomenon?
The whole "dry" thing is a joke. Here in Gawga, where MOST rural counties are dry, you can still drive less than an hour in most places to buy what you want. I have never understood this.
Next time you jaunt to Louisiana, drive the extra mile to the Hoggly Woggly in the heart of town and pick up that fifth of JD in the liquor aisle. Save you a buck or two.