Cedar Bluff Mayor answers questions about the town's upcoming alcohol sales referendum

By Scott Wright | July 11, 2003 | The Post | Cherokee County, AL

CEDAR BLUFF - Mayor Bob Davis sat down behind his desk for a few minutes Thursday afternoon to address some of the questions and comments he has been receiving since the town's successful drive to obtain the right to hold a wet-dry referendum from the state Legislature. The vote is scheduled for Aug. 12 at the Cedar Bluff Community Center, on old Highway 9 in downtown.

Q: Why the drive by yourself and the town council to allow alcohol sales in Cedar Bluff?

A: Anyone who wants alcohol already buys it in Georgia, or in Etowah or Calhoun County, and brings its to Cedar Bluff. When they make that 25-mile round trip to purchase their alcohol, we get the DUIs, alcohol-related accidents and roadside trash. And we get none of the revenue from those sales. We want to change that on Aug. 12.

Q: What do you say to detractors who claim those DUIs and accidents you mentioned will increase in frequency if the town goes wet?

A: I've talked to the mayors of four towns in Alabama that were dry and in a similar proximity to alcohol, like Cedar Bluff is today. They all told me that after they voted to legalize alcohol sales in their cities the DUIs, alcohol-related accidents and trash went down. These cities are Oxford, Guntersville, Bridgeport and Stevenson. Anyone who wants to can call the mayors of any of these towns and find out for themselves.

Q: What do you say to people who fear that a yes vote on Aug. 12 will in some way endanger the children of Cedar Bluff?

A: I've heard a few people say that. If that were the case, I would be the first person to vote no. I have two small grandchildren, and I always try to keep them as safe as possible. I firmly believe that legalizing alcohol sales in Cedar Bluff will make the streets safer.

Q: How will the town oversee the sale of alcohol if the referendum passes?

A: This is all about revenue and economics for Cedar Bluff. I have been mayor of Cedar Bluff for almost 12 years and I have always worked with the town council to move forward in a way that would benefit the residents of this town. This referendum is no exception. We want and need the income from the sale of alcohol to improve our town. Why should we keep giving our tax dollars to Georgia and surrounding counties? And alcohol sales in Cedar Bluff will be a clean-run operation. Anyone who sells alcohol to a minor or violates any alcohol-related law will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I can personally assure you of that. And there will be no beer joints or taverns in Cedar Bluff.

Q: What's your reply to anyone who thinks this is a spur-of-the moment decision to generate income for the town?

A: This is not something we came up with overnight. We have been studying this avenue of revenue for four years. This vote to legalize alcohol is a move forward for Cedar Bluff.

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