NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The city of Neenah has reintroduced talks of repealing a ban on alcohol sales in convenience stores.
The ban, which has been in place since the 1980s, prohibits convenience stores from selling alcohol. Alderperson Mark Ellis says it’s time for a change.
“I was on the council 40-plus years ago when the city initially banned convenience stores from beer and wine. I was against it then, and all good things come in time. 40-plus years later, here I am and we’re going to try it again.”
Alderperson Lee Hillstrom says otherwise.
“The creep of more alcohol in our city, we keep approving more and more ways for people to drink on our streets or whatever, you know, just against doing that any further.”
The city of Neenah has prepared for heavy drinking events in the past, urging residents to drink safely and responsibly.
The idea of repealing the ordinance banning convenience stores from selling alcohol has been brought up multiple times in the past few years, but each time it was voted down.
Ellis says that alcohol awareness has improved significantly since the first time it was introduced.
“Education into drug and alcohol awareness I think has taken leaps and bounds in four decades.”
Those against the ordinance says it would be damaging to small businesses.
“Protecting our small businesses that we have here, because if you change this, then the bigger stores come in, and our small stores go out,” explained Hillstrom.
And members of the public say it can also change the perception of driving under the influence.
“Okaying… the perception of “it’s okay to drink and drive” because if you put alcohol into a gas station, you’re putting them both — both of them are together,” said a community member in attendance at the meeting.
While voting on the ordinance isn’t expected to happen until August, the re-introduction of the ordinance is already bringing vocal members of the community to council to critique it. It will be presented by the Community Development Department.
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