Alcohol sales

It has always been a struggle for the Waynesboro City Council to deal with regulations governing the sale of alcohol. For example, though Waynesboro voters approved the sale of liquor by the drink in November of 2003, it was almost a full year before the council was able to agree on an ordinance providing for the issuance of licenses.

Some members of council disapprove of the sale of alcohol in any form or under any circumstances. They oppose it on moral and/or religious grounds and they certainly have the right to hold those beliefs. Unfortunately, public officials do not have the luxury of picking and choosing the laws they want to enforce. Many times elected and appointed officials are called on to enforce laws and regulations they may personally find repugnant. But, they know it is their sworn duty to uphold all the laws of their jurisdiction, not just the ones they favor.

The sale of alcohol, both packaged and by the drink, is legal in the city of Waynesboro. It is up to the city council to formulate the rules under which it is sold. Right now the issue is whether to extend the sales cutoff time from the current hour of 11 p.m. until possibly as late as 2 a.m.

We think a moderate extension might be in order, but see no reason to go much past midnight. We have to agree with Chief of Police Karl Allen, whose department has to deal with those who have overindulged well past closing time. One councilman's notion that people will "be responsible in their actions" sounds a little naive to us. Folks who are out drinking after midnight are, by definition, not acting responsibly.

If everyone involved will work diligently and with open minds, we are sure the common ground will be found.