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Dillsboro voters say ‘yes’ to on-premises beer, wine
By Justin Goble
The voters have spoken, and Dillsboro restaurants will soon be able to offer their customers beer and wine.
The initiative easily passed last Tuesday (Nov. 8), with residents voting to allow the sales by a 38-17 margin for beer and a 39-15 margin for non-fortified wine.
The referendum was for on-premises sales only.
Proponents argued that the town was losing money to surrounding municipalities, including Sylva, where restaurants can offer beer and wine. Opponents countered that selling alcoholic beverages would hurt Dillsboro’s “family friendly” image.
Town Clerk Herb Nolan said he’s not sure how much revenue beer and wine sales will bring into the town.
According to a report by the N.C. League of Municipalities, beer and wine taxes are considered per capita taxes – taxes that are distributed to municipalities based on their population. These tax dollars are dispersed among the municipalities that allow sales whether or not any of the town’s restaurants sell the beverages.
The report shows that in 2003 the town of Colerain, which had a population comparable to that of Dillboro at the time (219 to Dillsboro’s 233), generated $945 in tax revenue for the fiscal year.
Restaurant owners must apply for a license from the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Commission before they are allowed to sell wine and beer.
While Dillsboro officials may be contacted to offer an opinion of an applicant, the decision to issue a license lies solely with the ABC board, Nolan said.
Out of six restaurants that operate in Dillsboro which were contacted by The Herald, three indicated they would apply for a license to sell beer and wine. Those three are Dillsboro Steak and Seafood, Lil’ Harvey’s Place and New Horizons Cafe. Two others – The Jarett House and the Well House said that they would not sell beer or wine on premises. B and Al’s could not be reached before press time, and the Dillsboro Smokehouse declined comment because the restaurant’s owner was out of town.
Dillsboro officials had to seek help from the General Assembly to get the beer and wine vote on last week’s ballot. Town board members sent an April letter to Rep. Phil Haire (D-Sylva), asking him to present a bill that would allow Dillsboro to hold a referendum. State statutes require legislative approval for alcoholic beverage referendums in towns with fewer than 500 residents.
After approval was granted by the General Assembly, town board members voted during an Aug. 30 called meeting to put beer and wine sales on the ballot.
Dillsboro residents last voted on alcohol sales in restaurants in 1998, when the measure was narrowly defeated. That referendum included package stores along with on-premises sales. Another push to put on-premises sales on the ballot came in 2001, but failed due to statutes that disallow a vote for five years after a referendum has been defeated.
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