73 years after the end of Prohibition, the Bible Belt still won’t consent to a belt of booze. But change seems to be brewing.
It appears that the usual reformers of restraints to trade, that is, businessmen at the local and national level, even including Wal-Mart, are getting together to see if they can get these astringent enclaves to permit the sale of the recreational inebriant.
One wonders at the resilience of the Bible Belt, given that at The Last Supper Christ did not tarry over alcohol-free wine. Nor do we read that the water he is regaled for turning into wine at the wedding of Canaan was free of the sinful substance.
So far the hopeful merchants have spent about $15 million on ads and lobbying. Their daunting goal is convince about 200 towns and 25 counties that remain staunchly dry to salivate.
A person who enjoys the harmless and, if health reports are correct, salutary effects of a glass or two of wine with dinner cannot help but think how many evenings of tasty delight $15 million might have brought to the tablecloth.
Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing "delightfully funny," "witty," with "great humor and ebullience" and "good, genuine laughs." |
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