Bryan County approve liquor by the drink

DURANT, Okla. (AP) _ Residents in one southern Oklahoma county can buy a drink at a bar or restaurant now. <br/><br/>Bryan County voters Tuesday approved liquor by the drink by a 10,613 to 4,726 vote,

Thursday, November 4th 2004, 6:23 am

By: News On 6

DURANT, Okla. (AP) _ Residents in one southern Oklahoma county can buy a drink at a bar or restaurant now.

Bryan County voters Tuesday approved liquor by the drink by a 10,613 to 4,726 vote, becoming the 42nd county to do so in Oklahoma.

The proposal failed in two previous elections.

Durant restaurant owner Mark Rawlings says the issue isn't about drinking, but about economics.

Rawlings says the dry county designation hurt the local economy by discouraging major chain restaurants and other industry from locating there.

Residents no longer will have to bring a bottle with them to get a drink at a club or restaurant, nor will they have to travel to other counties or into Texas to get a drink.