Gainesville Alcohol Laws = Taxes not Safety

Ok.  I know that some people believe that alcohol (and the drinking thereof) is a sin (meaning if you drink any alcohol you will be damned to an eternity in the fires of Hell tormented by Satan after you leave this earthly plane).   I guess those same people believe that when Jesus turned the water into wine (at his mother’s request) that he really turned water into grape Kool-Aid or that he turned the water into wine only to tempt those wedding guests with the fires of Hell.  If so, they picture a different Jesus that I do.  While acknowledging those beliefs, I don’t agree with them and don’t think a majority of people do either.  We are just too polite to say anything about it for fear of having a “scarlet letter” placed on our forehead.

Simple problem.  Gainesville’s alcohol regulations are not designed to have any legitimate health or safety purpose.  No one can make a argument to the contrary with a straight face.  Gainesville’s alcohol regulations are simply an imposition of a minority religious viewpoint with exceptions allowed only to raise taxes.  So even the most religious will tolerate sin if there is some money in it for the Governemnt?  That seems hypocritical to me in more ways than one.  Prohibition was repealed folks–except in Gainesville.  And don’t we pay enough taxes for the privilege of living in Hall County already?  The simple problem is unnecessarily big Government intrusion.

Need more convincing?  There is already a three-tiered monopoly in Georgia to distribute alcohol.  Every drop of alcohol is regulated and taxed like crazy from the national level to the city level.  Every distributor has to account for each alcoholic beverage like it is nuclear waste–all to make sure that Goverment gets every single penny and not for any safety concern.  The monopoly is so tight that some restaurants pay more for a beer than the customer would have to pay at the grocery store.  City court routines tickets restaurants for selling beer they buy “bootleg” (meaning from Wal-Mart).  But even with a choke-hold on the distribution channel, Gainesville is not satisfied. 

Gainesville alcohol taxation is tantamount to extortion at the point of a gun.  Each person who serves alcohol has to have a license and pays a tax to obtain that license.  Each restaurant that wants to sell alcohol has to make an application, and pay an exorbitant tax to obtain the license which has to be renewed each year.  (I wish I could remember the exact numbers, but they are “exorbitant.”  Maybe I will research the ordinance and update them later.)  Also, I think you you have to be a resident of the county and own the business to obtain the license in the first place.  They have the sale locked down so tight that legitimate businesses can’t sell alcohol.  Even wonder why you have to drive to Buford to eat at Olive Garden, On the Border, or Macaroni Grill?  Only businesses with no choice would locate in an area that is so against business.  Either selling alcohol is a legitimate, legal business, or it is completely prohibited.  Pick a side and stick to it Gainesville.  Don’t be such hypocrites.

Have I mentioned that people with badges and guns enforce the regulations have to be hired and paid to go door to door and check receipts for all the licensees?  Every week?  And if you aren’t complying then you get a trip to the judge and/or you lose your license (and your tax payment) and you get to apply (and pay another tax) all over again.

Have you been to the square lately?  How many doors are closed in part due to over-regulation?  Seabones.  Mojo’s.  Brick House.  In my opinion, a square with the same alcohol regulation is dead.  The Gainesville City Council has the gun in its mouth and they keep pulling the trigger.  If they had a brain, I guess it would be gone by now.

Note that the Gainesville City Council is now just trying to make it easier for caterers and non-profit organizations to sell alcohol.  Why do they get a special treatment over other businesses?  Maybe because someone on a non-profit board called and complained (big businesses just went somewhere else–why bother to complain).  I am a member of a board that held a party and I was prohibited from bringing my own bottle to the last event because we had to follow Gainesville law.  So now Gainesville City Council is going to spend time and effort to make exceptions to their rules for their friends.  Note again, that there is no health, safety, or welfare issue involved.  Only the GOB (good ‘ole boy) issues.  And apparently it is OK to sin in the name of a non-profit organization if you pay the tax.

Simple solution.  Get government out of the business of telling others what they should be doing morally.  If Gainesville was REALLY worried about DUIs, then have the cops stand outside on the square on Friday nights giving out free breath tests.  I saw a portable machine to test breath for alcohol at Best Buy this weekend at the check out line.

See the original story:  gainesvilletimes.com – Gainesville still working on alcohol laws

And if you think Gainesville’s alcohol laws are crazy, just check out their laws illegally regulating free speech!  I haven’t forgotten that I was right about that, despite the loss of interest on the subject.

Oh, and the Gainesville City Council should be elected on a partisan basis.  Watch Flowery Branch lead the way.