In some counties of Arkansas, alcohol is not easily found; in fact, it is not sold in 35 of the state’s 75. Next week, The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Initiative, Issue 4 will appear on the ballot for voters in the state to determine whether to end the prohibition of alcohol statewide.
If the initiative passes, the Arkansas Constitution would be amended on July 1, 2015. The amendment would legalize the “manufacture, sale, distribution and transportation of intoxicating liquors” within the entire state. The text of the initiative defines “intoxicating liquors” as beverages with “more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by weight.”
According to the initiative, the Arkansas General Assembly – the legislative branch of the Arkansas state government – would be responsible for regulating the newly legalized alcohol-related activity.
The “Let Arkansas Decide” campaign is leading the support of the initiative, arguing that the amendment to the state constitution would increase tax revenue, create jobs, expand freedoms and promote safer communities by reducing accidents related to drunk driving. The Washington Post reported that this group has raised $165,000 for this effort.
Opponents of the initiative, on the other hand, comprise the “Let Local Communities Decide for Themselves” campaign, the Citizens for Local Rights and the Arkansas Beverage Retailers Association. ABC 7 KATV reported that the latter has raised concerns about the implications the initiative would have for local liquor stores in currently “wet counties.” The Washington Post reported that $1.7 million has been raised by opponents of the initiative.
An article reported out of Oazark, Arkansas via The Duncan Banner described the opposition as of late as a union between the local liquor stores and the local churches: “The stores in wet counties don’t want to lose customers. The churches don’t to lose souls.”
UALR Public Radio reported mid-October that the results of a survey conducted by Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College showed 40 percent in favor of and 54 percent against the initiative, and six percent did not know how they would vote.
If the initiative passes, every county would be “wet” by summer of 2015; on the other hand, as The Washington Post pointed out earlier this week, with or without the passing of this amendment, each county in Arkansas can vote to go “wet” any time. In fact, two are scheduled to vote on exactly that next week.