Watonga voters decide on liquor by the drink

Watonga - It's been almost 20 years since Oklahomans gave counties the option of allowing liquor by the drink.<br><br>But almost half of Oklahoma's 77 counties remain dry.<br><br>Voters in Blaine

Sunday, November 30th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Watonga - It's been almost 20 years since Oklahomans gave counties the option of allowing liquor by the drink.

But almost half of Oklahoma's 77 counties remain dry.

Voters in Blaine County will revisit the issue on December 9th. That's when they go to the polls to decide whether to allow liquor by the drink. Residents have voted no twice before.

Liquor by the drink laws allow the sale of hard liquor at restaurants and bars if those establishments receive state licenses.

Former Watonga Mayor Tony Kohl says surrounding counties that allow liquor by the drink have grown in population.

But some members of Watonga's ministerial alliance opposes the proposal. Rob Harris, pastor of Watonga's First United Methodist Church. says passage would mean drinking would be allowed in public.