The towns of Carthage and South Carthage will soon no longer have to travel to Gordonsville for liquor, as all three referendums up for vote regarding the matter passed in Tuesday’s election.
While the presidential race has been a heated topic for many Americans, an entirely different matter has been debated in Smith County.
In Carthage, voters were to choose whether or not they wanted to allow retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages, as well as the legal sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises, or ‘liquor by the drink’.
In South Carthage, the vote was whether or not to allow retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages.
In all three cases, voters chose ‘to permit’ the sale of alcohol. In Carthage, both referendums passed with around 60% of the vote; however, the decision was much closer in South Carthage, where the referendum passed with a little less than 52% of the vote.
Proponents have argued that the sale of alcohol will help businesses thrive and generate revenue for Smith County’s economy, while opponents argue it will bring unwanted consequences, such as broken families, abuse and even death, whether by disease or accidents.
