Sheffield City voters will decide Tuesday on Sunday sales

Sheffield's hospitality industry sees Sunday alcohol sales as an economic issue, something that could enhance the city's prosperity.

Others, like Brad Mitchell, pastor at First Baptist Church in Sheffield, oppose Sunday sales on moral grounds.

On Tuesday, Sheffield voters will decide if they want to legalize the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

The referendum asks residents if the on-premises consumption of alcohol should be permitted inside the city limits after noon on Sundays at properly licensed motels and restaurants.

The referendum does not include the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption.

Jim McDevitt, general manager of the 150-room Webster Hotel and Suites, said Sunday alcohol sales would be good for business.

McDevitt said his hotel is hurt by the fact that Sunday sales are legal just across the Tennessee River in Florence.

Florence also recently began allowing the sale of draft beer, which is not sold in any Colbert County municipality.

McDevitt said he constantly has out-of-town guests ask why there are no Sunday liquor sales or draft beer sold in Sheffield.

Sheffield residents supported a measure to legalize Sunday sales in a failed 2005 referendum in Colbert County.

The Sheffield City Council voted 5-1 in January to hold a referendum for Sunday sales.

A bill to allow draft beer in Sheffield was never brought up during the last state legislative session.

McDevitt said he hopes the Sheffield results will be the same this time around as they were in 2005.

"I know the local restaurants and two convention hotels are definitely hoping it gets passed," McDevitt said. "After that hopefully passes, we'll get draft beer on this side of the river. The lack of Sunday sales issue hit hard on New Year's Eve when it fell on a Sunday in 2006."

McDevitt said the hotel lost about $10,000 in revenue because of a lack of Sunday sales.

Linda Whitaker Campbell, general manager of the 205-room Holiday Inn, said the hotel recently sent a group of Irish tourists to a restaurant in Florence on a Sunday when she determined there was no legal way to serve them alcohol with their dinner.

"This area is really missing out on potential sales for all those type events," she said. "This side of the river, the Colbert County side, is losing revenue and it's going to (Florence)."

First Baptist's Mitchell said he does not know of an organized effort in opposition to legal Sunday sales, but ministers of various churches have discussed how they will approach the upcoming referendum.

"We have decided that what we are going to do is speak to the people in our churches," Mitchell said. "It is a moral issue, especially for a Sunday. I think six days is enough."

Mitchell said he opposes alcohol sales in general. He said he disagrees with the claim that Sunday sales will help place Sheffield's motels on a level playing field with Florence.

"You can't compete with the Marriott," he said.

He also noted that the Outback Steakhouse in Sheffield was "as busy as can be on Sunday" without liquor sales.

Mitchell contends that another day of alcohol sales would create a need for additional law enforcement.

"The logic doesn't stack up for me," he said. "We don't need more alcohol in our community. I'll certainly vote against it, and I will ask my people to do the same."

Linda Owens, secretary of Cox Boulevard Church of Christ, said the church marquee has a message urging Sheffield residents to vote against Sunday sales.

She pointed out, however, that the church has many members who are not Sheffield residents.

"Vote no" messages also have appeared on signs at churches in Muscle Shoals.

Sheffield Mayor Billy Don Anderson said he has worked hard to see that the legislation allowing the referendum was passed.

"I would hope that the people understand that this is an economic issue for Sheffield," Anderson said.

"It is vital to the hotels we have and our restaurants. It will be vital as we continue to recruit businesses and restaurants to our city."

Jack Watkins, owner of the Old Town Tavern, said being open another day would be beneficial to his business.

"It would help level the playing field with our competition (in Florence)," Watkins said.

He said he hopes the Legislature will eventually approve a bill that would allow draft beer sales in Sheffield.

"Draft beer in Florence has completely killed my business," Watkins said.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.