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Thursday, March 13, 2003 Page: 7A
I READ THE ARTICLE “SUNDAY SALES OF LIQUOR FLOWING” PRINTED IN THE FEB. 17
TIMES LEADER AND HAVE A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS. THE PROPONENTS OF SUNDAY SALES
PUSHED THE IDEA ON CUSTOMER CONVENIENCE. IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF YOUR
ARTICLE IT IS STATED THAT “THERE WERE EIGHT CARS SITTING HERE AT 10 A.M.
WAITING TO GET IN.” I WOULD SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE WAITING FOR TWO HOURS FOR THE
LIQUOR STORE TO OPEN HAVE A PROBLEM UNRELATED TO BEING “RESPONSIBLE ADULT
DRINKERS” WHO FIND SUNDAY SALES MORE CONVENIENT. IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE
THAT THE CLERGY QUOTED WITH THE STRONGEST OPPOSITION WAS A CHAPLAIN AT A
PRISON. SOME REPORTS STATE THAT UP TO 97 PERCENT OF EVERYONE IN PRISON IN
PENNSYLVANIA HAS AN ALCOHOL AND OR DRUG PROBLEM. THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF PERSONS WITH DRUG PROBLEMS MOVED FROM USING ALCOHOL TO DRUGS. I DO
NOT UNDERSTAND A PASTOR WHO WOULD LIMIT ADDRESSING “GRADUAL EROSION OF
VALUES” BY ADDRESSING “ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.” WHAT DOES HE DO ON SUNDAY WITH
THE SERMON TIME? WE ARE NOT WAGGING OUR FINGERS AND SAYING, “THAT’S
NAUGHTY.” WE ARE ASKING OUR POLITICAL LEADERS TO EXERCISE RESPONSIBLE
OVERSIGHT (CONTROL) OVER THE SALE OF ALCOHOL IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT WAS NOT THE
PEOPLE WHO PUSHED FOR SUNDAY SALES, IT WAS THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY. DAVID OZGO, A
DISTILLED SPIRITS COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES VICE PRESIDENT, IS QUOTED AS
SAYING THAT (FULL) SUNDAY SALES WILL RESULT IN A 20 PERCENT INCREASE IN SALES.
WE UNDERSTAND THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY WANTING TO MAKE MORE MONEY. WHAT WE DO NOT
UNDERSTAND IS WHY THE PLCB AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD GIVE THEM WHAT THEY
WANT WITHOUT HOLDING A PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE ISSUE. SUNDAY SALES WERE PASSED AT
THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE WEE HOURS OF THANKSGIVING DAY
MORNING. THE LAST OBSERVATION IS THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLCB SAID THE ISSUE
WAS ABOUT ALLOWING A CUSTOMER TO BUY A BOTTLE IF WINE TO ENJOY WITH A “PASTA
MEAL WITH HIS FAMILY ON SUNDAY EVENING.” THE PHOTO WITH YOUR ARTICLE SHOWS A
CLERK CHECKING OUT A CUSTOMER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS CUSTOMER IS GOING TO
“ENJOY” THREE BOTTLES OF VODKA. Brian W. Smith, Executive Director
Pennsylvanians Concerned About Alcohol Problems
Harrisburg