JonesboroRightNow publishes opinion pieces representing both sides of a variety of topics. Opinions presented do not necessarily reflect those of the newsroom or management. To join the conversation, visit jonesbororightnow.com/opinions.

I am deeply disturbed about the possibility of a so-called “entertainment district” in Downtown Jonesboro. This is nothing but an opportunity for alcohol drinkers to consume more alcohol at the public’s expense. And, the public always pays for it in the end.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) alcohol consumption costs every man, woman, and child in America $807 every year.

The following reasons are why this is a bad idea:

  1. Selling booze at this “entertainment district” basically only benefits the 6 or 8 businesses that sell alcohol.
  2. This only benefits a small number of people in a small section of Jonesboro. Everyone else pays.
  3. The cost of alcohol problems outweigh the small tax benefit.
  4. Encourages people to booze it up.
  5. Encourages the proliferation of alcohol in Jonesboro which is already flooded with alcohol with around 50 or more alcohol permits.
  6. Influences the young to be more acceptable of alcohol as a permissible form of recreation and fun.
  7. It is encouraging the taking of a drug and a poison because alcohol is both. And for what, a few tax dollars, maybe, and money in the pockets of alcohol sellers.
  8. There is no way to that police can guarantee no one will break the rules. The very nature of alcohol is to cause people to be rowdy and cause some of them, if not many, to ignore the rules.
  9. There is nothing good or beneficial about this and everything bad.

It is inconceivable to me that reasonable people would even be considering this possibility. I challenge the president of the Downtown Jonesboro Alliance, or anyone else, to a public debate on the merits of this “entertainment district”.

I call on the Jonesboro City Council to make the right decision and vote to deny this alcohol promoting “entertainment district” in the name of common sense.

“Downtown” Jonesboro leadership, (Downtown Jonesboro Alliance) has hung their future on alcohol. That was the plan when the first alcohol permit was granted to Piero’s Restaurant in 2004. Piero’s has been gone many years. The plan has failed dismally yet they continue to introduce new ways of allowing alcohol consumption in that area. The latest being the “entertainment district”.

In the eight years since the introduction of alcohol “downtown” in 2004 to 2012, over 63 businesses left that small area. That averages one every 7 weeks.

Business are still coming but also going at about the same rate as they come. Buff Soap Factory left Main in February of this year. Another business is moving from Church Street to Red Wolf Boulevard.

Their goal of a boom from alcohol has failed completely.

Bobby Hester
State Director, Arkansas Family Coalition

JonesboroRightNow publishes opinion pieces representing both sides of a variety of topics. Opinions presented do not necessarily reflect those of the newsroom or management. To join the conversation, visit jonesbororightnow.com/opinions.