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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A referendum that would allow liquor by the drink in the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County was passed with a significant number of voters in favor of making the change.
48,188 votes were received for the proposal. Only 17,346 voted against the measure.
The resolution that brought about the referendum was originally introduced by County Commissioner Lee Helton (R-East Brainerd).
In his proposal, he noted that the current process by which restaurants located out in the county areas obtain a Premier Resort Permit is complicated.
Currently, restaurants in certain parts of Hamilton County can sell beer but not cocktails that contain liquor.
Helton also stated that sales tax generated from these liquor sales would be a consistent source of revenue for the county.
At the time, Commissioner Joe Graham said the measure “kind of brings us into the 20th Century,” noting that county residents would be able to “enjoy a nice restaurant, and the taxes would be very beneficial.”
