1. ✓ Fact 1    Lubbock County voters will decide on May 9 whether or not alcohol sales will be expanded from limited outlets in restricted areas to potentially every supermarket, convenience store, drug store, and drive-through package store.  The county elections office estimates this election will cost the taxpayers $350,000-$400,000.
   
   

2. ✓ Fact 2     Since the county can collect only 1% sales tax from liquor sales, it will take $40 million in increased  liquor sales to recoup this cost alone.
   
   

3. ✓ Fact 3    As of this date, the city zoning department has been unable to supply a comprehensive map of the proposed changes.  Zoning for package-store locations and regulation of liquor sales are controlled by The Texas State Alcoholic Beverage Code, not by state, county nor city officials.
   
   

4. ✓ Fact 4    Law enforcement is complicated by the fact that “alcohol is the only psychoactive drug that in many individuals tends to increase aggressive behavior temporarily while taking effect.”  Drug Policy Forum of Texas.
   
   

5. ✓ Fact 5    The following sampling studies relate to the “adverse health and social consequences” of increasing alcohol-outlet density (AOD) in any area:
   
   “Increasing the density of these outlets in a suburb leads to increasing rates of violence in that suburb; [Specifically,] hotels and bars were the biggest drivers of violence in inner-city areas and packaged liquor outlets were more important in suburban areas.” “Every new. . .on-premises liquor license issued in inner-city communities equated to an extra two nighttime assaults each year.” Journal of Alcoholism: Criminal & Experimental Research, June, 2008.  “The findings show a clear association between alcohol outlet density and violence, and suggest that the alcohol availability and access are fundamental to the prevention of alcohol-related problems within communities.” A geospatial analysis-Austin/San Antonio, 2004.
   
   

6. ✓ Fact 6    According to current Texas Department of Public Safety records:
   
   Drunk driving crimes occur more often than any other crime. Texas leads the nation in the number of traffic deaths that involve alcohol.  One in every five Texans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.  11% of all the people arrested for drinking and driving were under 21--the legal age for alcohol consumption in Texas.
   

During early voting or on Saturday, May 9, join us in

voting AGAINST county-wide off-premises liquor sales!

Paid for by Lubbock County residents forming TAAS-PAC.