Letter to the Editor: No Smoking—But More Booze is OK

No Smoking—But More Booze is OK

When the Board of Aldermen passed the No Smoking bill last fall it was on the premise that the city leaders wanted to protect the health and welfare of our citizens. No more second hand smoke in our city!

This in essence was a good call. But when it comes to hard liquor (booze) this premise was not a consideration.

Now when you pull up to your neighborhood gasoline-convenient store and ask for a fill-up you can get both a full tank of gas and a fill-up of your favorite “booze,” 24-7.

In today’s society where there are more drug and alcohol-related deaths then ever before and where alcohol accounts for a vast number of driving-related deaths, why in the world would our city leaders (BOA) embrace a bill which would put more alcohol available to the driving public? The answer is obvious. “The dollar.”  The gasoline-convenient-store owners, in a quest for more profit from their operations, have requested (demanded) the city to change our ordinance and allow hard liquor to be sold at all of their locations. The city will accommodate them. The city will get their cut too from the license fees and the sales tax revenue.

For the past 35 years the LSL leaders have always embraced the idea that gasoline and alcohol don’t mix. They have always encouraged the citizens not to drink and drive. This has changed since the city has passed a bill that would allow more alcohol to be available at your local convenient store 24 hours a day 6 days a week.

Lake Saint Louis is eight square miles in size. We presently have issued over 26 liquor licenses to the various businesses in our city. This averages three liquor licenses per square mile. This is more than sufficient for this small community.

At the present time, gas stations-convenient stores are allowed to sell wine and beer from their locations. But if they included package liquor, is would be more profitable to them and the city.

Where are the ethics and values of our aldermen? Where have our priorities gone? Where has our sense of values gone? Recently when I spoke to one of our aldermen about the bill, her reply was that her priority was with the business community and if people wanted to drink and drive, it was their choice!

I am sure the Mothers Against Drinking and Driving will be outraged over this bill, and so should the people of this fine community.

Respectfully,

Harry Slyman