Letters to the Editor: Alcoholics no reason to restrict sales

Regarding the issue of Sunday alcohol sales in Clovis (“Citizens split over sales, Jan. 6 CNJ”):

People against Sunday alcohol sales in restaurants should put up a better argument than stated in this article. Linda Teakell’s argument simply doesn’t float.

I am a lifetime member of VFW Post 3280, but am not an advocate of excessive drinking. I seldom drink, and normally drink 7UP. I am not for opening up Sunday sales for liquor stores, private clubs, or stores/markets.

However, restaurants are a different story.

People don’t go to restaurants to get drunk — not at $3 a beer or $4.50 a glass of wine. They go to enjoy their meals, some of which are enhanced by beer or wine.

If need be, restrict the sales to beer and wine only, no hard liquor, and keep their serving tied to the serving of food.

In all fairness to Teakell, I can see concern about open bars in restaurants.

But if anyone believes that not having liquor sales on Sunday reduces drinking, they’re dreaming!

Alcoholics don’t go without drinking on Sunday; they simply stock up for Sunday during the previous week.

Thinking they don’t drink is ludicrous; to prove this, just read the papers regarding Sunday alcohol-related incidents.

Has the no-sales policy eliminated Sunday drunks in the past? I don’t think so.

Come on public, wake up. The sale of beer and/or wine in a food environment on Sunday will not contribute to increased drunks on the road. They are already there . ... and always have been.

Norman Reed

Clovis

Incumbents will repeat mistakes if elected

There has been a lot of emphasis on experience in selecting presidential nominees.

Haven’t we had enough of poor leadership from incumbents? All they do is raise their own salaries, store up campaign funds year after year so they can be re-elected and tax and spend trillions of dollars, driving our country into bankruptcy.

We need to limit Congressional terms as we limit the president’s term. A maximum of three terms would be a good way to force replacement of each congressman with fresh blood.

We need to be looking for new members who want to serve the American people and not their own self advancements. In addition they don’t have to be a lawyer to run!

We must find a more fair way to elect government leaders. It’s not fair when the rich can campaign using $15 to $30 million of their own wealth. Other good candidates can only raise $2 million to $5 million from middle-class supporters.

Len Santi

Clovis