Porch encourages Tennesseans to oppose Senate Bill 120

By staff - Mar 12, 2009 - 1

NASHVILLE — James Porch, executive-director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, announced his opposition to a new legislative bill — Senate Bill 120 — that will deregulate Tennessee’s liquor laws. Porch also encouraged his fellow Tennessee Baptists to oppose the bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron of District 13. The bill could increase the number of retail outlets selling high proof alcohol by 1,200 percent.

“Sen. Ketron is very confident that the voters in the 13th Senatorial District are in favor of high proof alcohol being sold in grocery and convenience stores,” said Porch. “Senator, I have a question, ‘Have you asked all the voters in your district to express their views on the expansion of the availability of liquor?’ ”

Sen. Ketron has publicly admitted he’s heard the most from the voters around Murfreesboro. Porch issued a call to all voters in District 13 to voice their opinions. The convention leader is concerned that thousands of voters may not even be aware of this newly proposed bill and the implications it could have on the state. Porch challenged voters to investigate the issue and especially recognize the highly probable damage to families, especially teenagers.

The TBC is comprised of about 3,000 churches and 1.1 million church members. “I don’t believe our members and their families are accurately represented in Mr. Ketron’s belief that all Tennesseans are supportive of SB 120,” said Porch.

He strongly encouraged voters to take immediate action and voice their opinions to Sen. Ketron by writing, calling and e-mailing. To reach Ketron, call (615) 741-6853; e-mail; or write 12 Jefferson Square, 805 South Church Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

According to the Feb. 3 Rutherford County Daily News Journal, Ketron said he is sponsoring this bill because his constituents want change, especially as people move to Tennessee from states where grocery stores legally sell wine.

“I understand the Senator thinks people should be able to go into their local grocery or convenience store and pick up a bottle of wine to go with their salmon,” said Porch. “I’m from Antioch. I eat salmon, and I know the sufficiency of southern sweet tea with any seafood and fried catfish. Does the good Senator really think Tennesseans in his district are concerned with selecting wines that go with their meals? In this economy, most are worried about just getting a basic meal on the table.”

This bill will increase the availability of high proof alcohol in Tennessee by 10 times, noted Porch. According to the Alcohol and Beverage Commission there are currently 525 retail liquor stores across Tennessee. If Sen. Ketron’s bill passes, the number of outlets selling wine could increase to more than 6,000.

“I’ve heard Sen. Ketron’s arguments that the new citizens who are moving into our state expect the convenience of alcohol in grocery stores,” said Porch. “What about those of us who’ve raised our children here and who’ve lived here for decades? Are our opinions to be dismissed? Besides, the issue of available food items to ensure attraction of a variety of cultures is downright silly. It reminds me of a certain brewery that built a case for coming to Tennessee upon the quality of the state’s water. My response — you don’t need good water to make slop.”

Porch noted that scientific research on alcohol outlets and consumption identified hundreds of articles that show increasing the number of stores that sell high proof alcohol has a direct impact on problem drinking, sales to minors and family violence. The convention believes this “convenience” will cost the state, counties, municipalities and, of more concern, it will cost families.

“I want to go in and open up the whole code, and that’s what I plan to do,” said Sen. Ketron during a reception for supporters of Red White and Food, a campaign paid for by the Tennessee Grocers Association to promote SB 120.

Porch responded, “Numerous Tennessee Baptists would not champion opening up the code and thereby making high proof alcohol more widely available, ensuring damaging effects on minors.” Currently, wine and spirits are only sold in retail liquor outlets by highly trained sales people. The typical grocery store clerk is younger and less likely to ask for and properly inspect identification. It is estimated that at least two-thirds of convenience and grocery store outlets sell to underage purchasers without asking for identification. In addition, jobs in grocery stores for underage teens might have to be eliminated to service the hard liquor drinkers.

Porch urges Tennesseans to consider several statistics as they develop their opinions on the issue.

  • Alcohol is the number one drug problem among the state’s youth.
  • The U.S. Surgeon General estimates that approximately 5,000 persons under age 21 die from alcohol-related injuries involving underage drinking each year.
  • Traffic accidents are the number one killer of teens, 15-20 years old, and 31 percent of teen traffic deaths are alcohol-related.

Based on these and other statistics, Porch questions the wisdom of making this drug even more available throughout Tennessee.

In fact, according to his understanding, research shows that the alcohol prevention tactics that are most effective with minors and young adults are policy strategies that influence the price, availability, drinking context or perceived risks of heavy drinking. SB 120 ignores this respected and proven research.

“Make an educated decision then, let Sen. Ketron know how you feel about his bill,” said Porch.

This article is reprinted from the March 4, 2009, issue of the Baptist & Reflector, the newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

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comments

1 On Mar 20th, 2009, at 2:44pm, John A. Meyers wrote:

I urge you to support SB120. The revenue generated will help families all across Tennessee.

Jesus would support a bill which will help so many families. By the way…...He did drink wine, didn’t he?!?

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