Jay eyes Sunday beer sale

Although no action was taken, Jay voters may have the chance to vote to approve the sale of beer on Sundays in the next municipal election in August 2020, after the issue was brought before the town council at Monday's night meeting.

Express It Exxon gas station owner Neil Patel approached the council Monday night to ask permission to sell beer on Sundays, citing that his brother, who owns a store in Century, clears around $3,000 on Sunday, which includes Jay money. Patel had approached the council about the same issue in March 2017, but no action was taken.

Patel said he clears $2,000 to $2,500 on Saturdays, of which groceries are $800, and the rest is beer and cigarettes. He said the store makes a 15 percent profit on the sales of beer and cigarettes.

"When they come to buy beer, they're going to buy ice, chips and other items," said Patel. "The whole Santa Rosa county is selling except Jay town."

Jay Mayor Shon Owens asked Operations Manager Eric Seib if there was anyone else who asked to sell beer on Sunday and Seib stated there was one manager from another store.

Dollar General, Family Dollar, Greer's, Farmer's Market and Express It sell alcohol currently, but do not sell in the city limits on Sunday.

Attorney Steve Cozart offered to take a look at what would be involved in making the change and get back to the council, and Mayor Owens agreed.

"I think that would be good, so we can better understand what our options are in the city limits side of it, and what we can do," said Owens.

Councilman Josh Holloway stood firm in his conviction that he would be opposed to it ethically.

"Aside from the numbers, I would be opposed to it from an ethical standpoint," said Holloway. "I think it goes against the character of the town."

Mayor Owens asked Holloway what he thought the characteristics of the town are.

"On Sunday, what do you do when you go through Jay?," said Holloway. "Most people that you see in Jay are very oriented religiously, and from that standpoint, I would be opposed to the sale of alcohol on Sundays. The whole reason why people stopped it in the first place was because of the religious aspect on Sunday.

Owens said he agreed and respected both points of view, but he said he also thinks they have to look at it from a business standpoint because he once was in the business and understands exactly where Patel is coming from also.

"My concern is, it's not always about making money, but I also think we have to look at the retailers that are here and why they're in this town and how we can support them in creating additional sales that we're not stopping anywhere else," said Owens. "At the same time, the religious aspect of it, I see both sides. When I was in that business, I saw a lot of people who went to Baptist Church and came in to buy a bottle of wine. That's in my opinion. Now I'm not one of those guys who doesn't drink wine, but I'm also not one of those guys who drinks five cases of beer every week."

Holloway pointed out the history of not selling alcohol on Sundays and it's origin.

"You look at why you would ban alcohol on Sunday," said Holloway. "What's the purpose? Why is it Sunday? Why not Monday? Or Friday? Always the history of not selling alcohol on Sundays based upon religious reasons. I understand it's about money too, but I do think there's always something that will make you money that you decide whether or not is good or bad for a town ethically."

Holloway went on to use the extreme example of how opening a strip business would effect the town, and said he understands that people have different opinions, but whether it is good or bad for the town is the ethical question.

Councilman Wayne Godwin stated he was against it for religious reasons as well.

"I would be against it for religious reasons too," said Godwin. "How long did it take Santa Rosa County to go wet? 50 years or longer."

Patel pointed out his brother's store in Century sells $1,000 worth of beer on Sunday, pointing out that a lot of Jay area residents will go to Century to buy beer.

Owens said he was trying to understand the reasons and differences of opinion and asked the question, "If I bought beer on Saturday, what's the difference of buying it on Saturday or buying it on Sunday or buying it on Monday, what am I stopping on Sunday? Ethically, how does that change the personality of a man who buys beer on Saturday versus Sunday?" asked Owens.

"I don't think it changes the personality of the person who is going to buy it either way, but it's what direction are we heading in this town," said Holloway. "Is it more about money or is it more about the character of the town?"

Holloway clarified that if the town did approve it, it would be a focus over money as opposed to a focus of something that might be honoring religious standpoints and those of this town, no matter religion that is.

Owens said he wanted to ask and discuss these questions because he wants to have input that explains why the town would or wouldn't sell alcohol on Sunday.

Opie's owner Lori Elder asked if tobacco products were sold on Sundays, and Patel said yes.

"The only reason I'm asking about tobacco products is because one of the biggest concerns from a religious perspective is because it's an addictive product and it elicits bad behavior and so forth, tobacco is also and addictive product, so my thoughts are, its kind of hard to say it's OK to sell cigarettes," said Elder. "It's different if you're cutting off anything that would be considered addictive on Sundays."

Elder said she read recently about a town that does not allow alcohol or tobacco at all because of it's addictive nature.

Holloway said he would prefer to let the town choose as opposed to the council making the decision.

"If they choose they would like to sell alcohol on Sundays, we support that and what they choose," said Holloway. "I would not be for it if we made the decision right now."

Add the item to the ballot in the special election would cost the town more money, according to Cozart.

The council discussed possibly putting the item on the ballot for the next regularly scheduled election, which will be August of 2020.

The next council meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, August 5.