Selling Beer At A Church Function

[M.SIGGA]

[quote name='littleflower' date='JMJ+May 6 2004, 10:03 PM'] okay regulation is a good idea in a perfect setting, but we dotn have a perfect setting. im sure stuff like that works out fine in other parishes, but not here.

our community is known for drug-smuggling, crime, gangs, shootings, stabbings, we're known for the high number of murders and this is a [b]small[/b] town. -_-

accidents are a norm here, we have lost friends and families in alchol related incidents......

and the person who will be selling beer is known for selling to minors and under-aged kids (the kids know they can get away with it, one of them just got arrested for it the other day)

now, there are plenty of reasons but thats not what this thread is for, we need cons because this is something major and dangerous.

all the extremes "what-ifs" and "could happen" you can think of are reality here when beer is present.

this isn't a debate whether its okay to drink or not, or alternatives to limit or regulate because that isn't the issue.......

so again.....please reasons against only are needed.

ps. this will be a FAMILY function put on by the church where kids will be present everywhere (same place, all day, [b]together[/b] )

thanks peeps. [/quote]
'nough said. all you guys get is cokes and punch.

[PedroX]

95% of domestic violence is directly related to alcohol

Over 50% of child abuse is related to drugs or alcohol

Drunk Driving is the largest killer of teens in this country.

Do you need more reasons?

peace...

[Sinner]

I personally don't drink. Our Church has a few tightly controlled functions with drinking that have been successful....
BUT you ask for reasons not to.
LEGAL LIABILITY........... have you asked your Church's insurance company if you will be covered if someone ends up driving drunk and killing someone in an accident? Have you asked your attorney?

[littleflower+JMJ]

thank you so much all! this will help sooo much..............

any and all would be appreciated and used!

[Norseman82]

Well, one reason not to sell it is that it could be bad PR among our separated brethren and sisthren that do not drink.

But I did play bartender once when the Opus Dei parish had its carnival.

And Blazer, you'll get a kick out of this: the other bartender who was with me is a KofC who used to be a bouncer and is built like he could play pro football and actually taught martial arts when he was a student at Christendom.

[Ash Wednesday]

I don't know how well the "family event" argument will fly. Supporters will argue the fact that it's not like teens and kids with parents drinking beer have NEVER seen their parents drink beer before. Chances are they probably have beer back at home in the fridge. What about the people that are bringing beer? Are they bringing their kids, too?

I think your best argument is what sinner mentioned. Legal liability. That and the reputation for selling alcohol to minors is a legitimate concern, too.

[lil bull 04]

I really don't agree with selling beer at this kinda of event. It isn't appropriate because there will be children and even though the Bible does not speciflically say you can't drink alcohol you aren't supposed to do it until you are drunk.

[dUSt]

Maybe it's just the fact that I was born in Milwaukee where there's a pub on every corner, but I think beer is a good thing for families. I think it's a southern thing (most likely caused by the Bible Belt mentality) that beer down here is mainly only served in "adult bars". Of course, it can be abused, but I think there's something to kids being exposed to [b]responsible[/b] drinking in a controlled environment. I think it's better for children to see adults drinking beer [b]responsibly[/b], in a family oriented, festive environment, than to hide it--only for them to be exposed to abusive drinking later. Why not serve beer? What better way to teach the kids that drinking is a good thing, for adults, when not abused?

[Carrie]

I don't think it's a big deal to sell beer at this kind of event, so long as the seller is responsible. Any seller of alcohol is not supposed to sell more alcohol to someone who seems intoxicated or close to being intoxicated. Why not just put a limit of the amount of beer each person can have? Have them pay in advance for, let's say a maximum of 3 beers, give them 3 tickets, and then they can redeem their tickets for their beer. Once the tickets are finished, bam, no more beer.

Saying it's a family event won't work. So are things like the circus, but they sell beer there.

[littleflower+JMJ]

um okay lets review..... LOL

there is no such thing as drinking moderately in this town, believe me, i know -_-

you talk about dances and other events, things turn ugly and fast too.

i wouldn't mind those ideas but there is no such thing as controlled, if we sale beer, all these peeps will literally drink until they are drunk as a dog, and im not kidding either. this event will also be really big, everyone and their families will be present at.....

i have seen family fights, kids being mistreated and crying, threats and incidents occur cuz when these peeps are drunk, becuase when your like that, you dont care, they'll pull out a knife, it wont matter to them about other's ppl's safety.....much less children's...

and when you already have problems in a town (like the ones i mentioned before) you dont want that to happen over here on church grounds......and be responsible for it.........i mean we have ccd kids, i dont want them to see that its at the church where their parents can get drunk....i've had to counsel kids who are depressed (2nd graders! young kids) and i found out why their depressed, cuz their parents are always drinking at home.....now why am i gonna support something thats gonna allow them to see/experience it at church? if they cant' escape it at home

last event we had, this woman got on stage, grab the mic and started yelling and cussing at her husband and at the whole community, because she found out her husband was having an affair and she was angry and going crazy in front of us(the girlfriend was there mind you wth him)....yes, i shudder to think what would have happen if we the church would have served her a few drinks to help her on her stage "incident"....we had to call the cops to get this woman down...now keep in mind, there are just too many opportunites in my town for something to happen, i can't see my church helping out to whats the downfall to many here....drinking problems....

yup i not exaggerating when i say my town doens't need the Church to sale beer at this function........the peeps who want to sell beer, want to sell it to everyone and their teen ya know? when these peeps drink, by all means, they drink.........agin the seller whos gonna be there already has varies charges against him for selilng beer!

i mean my beef is the Church will be handing it over to them, with no limits....not a convinence store......and all for the sake of money and that too me doesn't sound right.... thats why we need cons.....

if the council votes for it, fine, but we do want to be able to make a decision not on money but on the safety and risks that we will be taking if doing so.....

[littleflower+JMJ]

its not a matter of beer being bad or something.....if we could moderate it would be fine, it wouldn't be so bad but thats not possible here....

thats the reason for this thread, we do know what can and will happened at this particular event if it happens.....

thus, our concern for our community and worry for our Parish

[Lil Red]

flowery, you have every right to be concerned. my parish has a no-alcohol policy period. BECAUSE of the legal liability issue. Review: it causes your insurance for the church to go up; you have to hire security guards, off-duty policemen.

If you do end up having it, you're spending just as much money as you possibly might be making. So bring something else in, like someone suggested, kettle corn or other things.

Challenge your parish to be creative instead of using the easy way out. Challenge your parish to think of its community, instead of itself to make money. Remind your parish that all churches are to serve its community, not to make things possibly worse.

[Sojourner]

I agree with LRD. Especially about the kettle corn.

[Ash Wednesday]

If there are these concerns, then I really think the event should be made completely alcohol free. Don't go half way. You're still taking the same risks by allowing people to bring alcohol.

I do have a suggestion --if it turns out that the parish votes to sell the beer -- then I suggest selling the beer with strict regulations and have a "beer stamp." A person buys a beer, they get a stamp on the hand. Set a per person drink limit. If a person has two stamps on their hand, they don't get any more beer. That and any other alcohol is not to be allowed on the premises, so people at their beer limit won't try to get more alcohol from someone who brought it.

Personally I think allowing people to bring beer is a bigger problem than selling it. It would be much more difficult to regulate.

This is a suggestion, if and only if they end up going through with it. The least risk would be to eliminate alcohol completely.

P.S. Kettle corn is yummers! I think I'll pop some with movies tonite.

[Carrie]

Funnel cake sells too