Topic: Politics

BYOB or Buy Our Booze - Patrons at Zephrus enjoying a meal with wine they provided. Soon, diners may be offered a wine list at their favorite Vineyard Haven restaurants. 

It's been a battle for years in the dry town of Tisbury. Should restaurants be allowed to sell beer and wine to their patrons, or should the town remain the only of the major Vineyard towns to prohibit any alcohol sales? On April 15th, the townspeople will vote on the issue, which will be question 4 on the upcoming ballot. The measure recently passed Governor Duval Patrick's approval, shortly after he OK'd a similar proposal for Aquinnah.

Opponents fear that, although the wording of the revision would only allow for beer and wine sales in restaurants that seat a minimum of 30 people, allowing any liquor sales could herald future changes that would eventually lead to liquor stores and bars in Tisbury. Many residents are concerned that Tisbury would lose its character as a quiet family-friendly town. Some also believe that the quaintness of the dry status contributes to the unique character of Tisbury, which is differentiated from the other two major Vineyard towns as being more active during the day with shoppers, and less active (and noisy) at night.

Those in favor of allowing beer and wine sales point out that restaurant patrons are already allowed to BYOB - so the town is not truly dry, and there shouldn't be any visible difference. They also argue that restaurants will be responsible for their drinking patrons, will be able to cut them off if necessary, and will have to carry proper insurance. Furthermore, supporters stress that in order to change the law to allow sales of hard liquor or bars and liquor stores, the entire legislative process would have to be repeated.

If you're a Tisbury resident, get out and vote on April 15th from noon to 8:00 at the American Legion Hall, William Street, Vineyard Haven.

Here are some examples from history of how one vote made a difference:

NPR foreign correspondent, and seasonal Martha's Vineyard resident Charlayne Hunter-Gault posted an article from Johannesburg yesterday comparing South Africa's current political buzz surrounding the African National Congress' "first contested election in decades" to the political buzz on the Vineyard this summer surrounding the elections. Read more of Hunter-Gault's thoughts on the US & SA, as each strives for "a more perfect union" here.

While Huck might have Chuck for support (and back-up in a street fight), thanks to Martha’s Vineyard Barack Obama has Larry David. This past week while campaigning with Obama on Dartmouth’s campus, David answered questions about his favorite Curb episode ("The Ski Lift"), what would go in an Obama sandwich (tomato, lettuce, and sardines), and what he thought about Barack when they met on the Vineyard in 2004 (“I liked him from the first moment” despite being “...not presidential in a bathing suit.”). More from Arianna Huffington.