Voters Say No 'Private Membership' Needed To Drink In Tyler
By ROY MAYNARD
Staff Writer
The “private membership” requirement to get a drink within the city of Tyler will no longer apply following Saturday’s local option election.
Staff Writer
The “private membership” requirement to get a drink within the city of Tyler will no longer apply following Saturday’s local option election.
The ballot measure allowing restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages without the “uni-card” memberships won handily, with 4,520 voters or 68.35 percent voting “yes” to 2,141 voters or 31.65 percent voting “no.”
The new rules will simplify paperwork for restaurants that sell mostly food, as opposed to beverages (it doesn’t apply to bars).
“I’m excited that Tyler voters came out with such support for our local restaurant interests,” said Bob Westbrook, owner of CiCi’s Pizza and president of the East Texas Restaurant Association. “Everyone was ready for this to happen.”
“I’m excited that Tyler voters came out with such support for our local restaurant interests,” said Bob Westbrook, owner of CiCi’s Pizza and president of the East Texas Restaurant Association. “Everyone was ready for this to happen.”
The initiative will have a significant impact on local restaurants, he says.
“It costs each restaurant about $10,000 a year just to maintain the separate books and corporations you need for the (current) system,” Westbrook says. “It impacts us all, but especially the independent operators. This is really a big deal for independent, family-owned restaurants.”
“It costs each restaurant about $10,000 a year just to maintain the separate books and corporations you need for the (current) system,” Westbrook says. “It impacts us all, but especially the independent operators. This is really a big deal for independent, family-owned restaurants.”
He adds that TABC officers who have spent hours checking their “private club” paperwork will be free to enforce more serious violations, such as underage drinking.
But the vote will also effect a change in Smith County’s status as a “dry” county, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission says. And as such, some things will now be allowed that haven’t been before — such as the delivery of alcohol directly to restaurants, and public advertising for alcoholic beverages.
But the vote will also effect a change in Smith County’s status as a “dry” county, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission says. And as such, some things will now be allowed that haven’t been before — such as the delivery of alcohol directly to restaurants, and public advertising for alcoholic beverages.
The referendum won’t effect bars; only restaurants with 51 percent of sales in food, rather than beverages.
Members of Tyler Citizens for Restaurant Choice, a special purpose political action committee, gathered more than 7,500 signatures to put the referendum on the ballot.
There was no organized opposition to the measure.
Members of Tyler Citizens for Restaurant Choice, a special purpose political action committee, gathered more than 7,500 signatures to put the referendum on the ballot.
There was no organized opposition to the measure.
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