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Local Option Essay

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The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution gave states the right to control the transport and use of alcoholic beverages within its state bounds in the 1930’s. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, or TABC, is the state agency responsible for regulating the alcoholic beverage industry in Texas (The Organization). Texas state law grants the right to hold Local Option Elections. Local Option Elections allow localities (cities, counties) the opportunity to vote to choose whether to be dry, moist, or wet. This vote says what type of alcoholic beverages can be sold, and by what means they can be sold (What Are Local Option Elections?). In a dry area, the sale of alcoholic beverages with particular alcoholic content, or are of a particular …show more content…

The main argument for years for Angelina County to stay dry was the fear of DUI & DWI rates to increase. The findings from studies were inconclusive; it could not be said with absolute certainty the rates would increase in a wet county. Researchers believe the results may have been effected by the fact that even though the county was “legally and technically dry, but it was functionally and practically wet” (Scalen and Payne). Examining other studies would paint a better picture for an overall view of how wet vs. dry really affects DWI’s and alcohol-related vehicle fatalities. The larger the sample, the better picture you get for an average. You can form a confident conclusion the more informed you are about the matter. An alternative to strict prohibition Texas localities can consider is to become moist. Research has shown that two-out-of-three dry counties have more DWI’s and DUI’s than wet counties (Wet vs. Dry). If a locality still does not want to go completely wet, they can start slow by allowing some alcoholic beverages. This can teach the community how to be more responsible with alcohol. Overall, community citizens will probably be happier since they may not have to travel to other cities or counties to purchase alcohol. The locality could start earning some revenue from the sale of

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