Alcohol issue back on tap in Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County’s prohibition on Sunday beer and wine sales is putting a strain on local businesses, according to at least one member of the Board of Supervisors.
Callands-Gretna Supervisor Fred Ingram said he wants to look into changing the ban on Sunday alcohol sales.
The topic is an agenda item for the Board of Supervisors’ work session to be held at noon today in Chatham.
“It’s just for discussion to see how the board feels about it,” Ingram said.
He said allowing beer-and-wine sales in the county would help small businesses and compel tourists to spend a little more money in the area.
Visitors and residents who want to purchase beer or wine, on what many consider a day of worship, must venture out of the county.
“It’s important they stop at our local businesses rather than go out of the county,” Ingram said.
Alcohol is an incendiary topic in conservative, religious Pittsylvania County.
Supervisors have put the question of repealing the ban on Sunday beer/wine sales before voters twice since 1992. It failed both times.
State code, however, allows supervisors to bypass a referendum and reverse the ban with a simple 4-3 vote, Curtis Coleburn, chief operating officer for the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said Monday.
Davis said he wouldn’t vote for a repeal even if the state permits it.
“I’d want to send it to the voters,” Davis said.
He said the sale of alcohol is a controversial moral issue in the county and that he would “feel sorry for the supervisor who didn’t put that before the voters.”
Area churches worked to defeat proposed ban reversals in the past, Davis said.
Ingram said he agrees that the decision should lie with the voters.
“The people’s choice is very important to us,” Ingram said. “We (supervisors) represent the people; we don’t represent ourselves.”
Banister Supervisor William Pritchett declined to give his opinion on the idea of reversing the Sunday sales ban, but said the prohibition doesn’t stop residents who want to imbibe.
They drive to Danville or other areas that allow Sunday sales, he said.
In addition, the ban can pose a danger of drinking and driving, Pritchett said.
Davis, who recently led a county effort to ask the state to close its only ABC store before supervisors rescinded their vote, questions the advantages of lifting the ban.
“I’m not sure if it would be a tremendous benefit to the county,” he said.
Contact John R. Crane at
or (434) 791-7987.
Reader Reactions
As previously stated it is not a revenue issue, because if people were so concerned about revenue for the county they would be looking into ways to get the real “$$ lost” in the county. Everyone ignores that issue. Why? Because it is a fact no one is willing to address.
The figures stated earlier show the meager amounts that are distributed from profits and wine taxes to the city of Danville and to the county.
So how can anyone honestly think that allowing alochol sales on Sunday is going to in reality increase the county’s revenue a great deal.
Yes increased revenue is need for the county but alochol sales on Sunday is not the answer
It is a revenue issue. Think of the money our county could be making if we had it. Think about race weekend when all the traffic comes thru and sales are lost to Henry County or other areas. Not just beer but gas, chips,drinks and other items. No one is going to by a few things and then stop again for beer 5 miles down the road. They are going to do it all in one stop. Think about traveing to VIR or Birch Creek or even Lake Sugar Tree, same thing. We lose every time. It is time it changed. What about The Sunday before Labor Day or the Sunday before Memorial Day. The Family that may want to go to the lake and spend the day. dad or mom may want to pack a six pack along with all the fixings for a nice picnic lunch. Grocery store has all the items. So stop in Danville for that or Franklin or Campbell County instead of our Grocery Stores… More $$ lost.
First of all everyone seems so concerned about this being a revenue and not a moral issue. If everyone is so concerned about an increased revenue for the county, why not look at where the county is already losing revenue. For example Pittsylvania Co is losing $2.3 million in real estate revenue due to the county Land Use program. Also, farm equipment is not taxed. Everyone is quick to jump on the band wagon when alcohol is mentioned on the ballot and blame the churches for “lost” revenue. Yes for the most part church property is tax exempt, but what about all the people that make up the church? They are not tax exempt. Many of them are home owners and pay their share of real estate taxes. According to the VA ABC board website the distribution of profits and wine taxes in the city of Danville for 2007 was $58128.00 and Pittsylvania Co was $69491.00 which is a far cry from $2.3 million that the county is losing due to the Land Use program. So if Revenue is such a big issue with Fred Ingram, who represents the Callands-Gretna District,on the Board of Supervisors and all the others so concerned with the county revenue why not do away with the county Land Use program and you will have $2.3 million to add to the budget. Hats off to Supervisor Hank Davis, Chatham-Blairs District, who said “I’m not sure if it would be a tremendous benefit to the county,” if the ban was lifted.
Hopefully all the business owners in the county will show up at the May 5th Board of Supervisors meeting to show their support to Mr. Ingram and the other person involved in getting this going. It is time we catch up. Like Nana 65 said we need to seperate Church and State… Schools already have to do that. It is time our local government does the same. How many of the churches in Pittsylvania County pay taxes on the property they sit on or are they tax exempt.
The question of alcohol sales is no longer a moral question but an economic one. Citizens of this county sould wake up and understand that we are restricting the growth and tax base for Pittsylvania County. It is really a very simple concept: If businesses are not bound by archaic laws, they can thrive and the entire area will benefit.
As one who owned a business restricted by the alcoholic beverage law, I can tell you one thing for certain: If an individual wants alcohol, that person will buy it somewhere.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have an Applebee’s or similiar restaurants in the county? Oh, but we can just go to Danville or Greensboro or South Boston and give them the revenues when we want an alcohol beverage with a meal on Sunday.
I resent paying higher taxes when a lot of our money problems in the county could resolved if we could seperate Church and State. Problem is getting voters to stop being totally mindless on this matter and come to terms with necessity.
It is time this County catches up with the rest of the state. Revenue is being lost all the time and we are just letting it happen. Beer sales is not a RELIGIOUS issue, it is a REVENUE issue and the Supervisors need to see it this way. It is time we move forward. Beer / Wine sales will bring restaurants to our area. Maybe even hotels and more. Lets finally pass this and let it rest. I am ready for progress in our county. I am tired of seeing local counties and the City of Danville get our money on Sunday. Lets keep it in the COUNTY..VOTE YES FOR THE COUNTY TO PROSPER!!!!! I will be watching….
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