03/28/2024
Spread the love

White Lake voters are set to cast their ballots either “for” or “against” an upcoming referendum “on premises” and “off premises” sale of unfortified wine and the  “on premises” and “off premises” sale of malt beverages.

At least one business owner in White Lake is in favor of the upcoming referendum. Susan Inman, owner of The Venue, said, “We’re for it.”

She explained that under the current law, a client who rents The Venue has to obtain a special use permit to serve beer and wine at a function. Inman said the application requires a background check among other things before the permit is granted.

Inman said if The Venue could obtain its own ABC permit, it would help with business.

Inman also owns Regal Resort 2 and she said campers complain often about the situation.

“It would help businesses,” said Inman of the proposed measure.

Currently, White Lake only allows for the sale of wine.

Others are not so supportive. Kay and Tom Martin, residents of White Lake, had this to say:

“White Lake is and always has been a family oriented vacation spot in Southeastern North Carolina. We pride ourselves on being called a residential resort community. As a full time resident of this community, I cannot see how beer and wine sales would be a valuable asset to our community and the reputation that it has worked so hard to build.

Beer and wine sold over the counter in local convenient stores, eating establishments, and entertainment facilities is not what people come to White Lake for. They come for family vacations that make memories that last a lifetime.

For those vacationers that wish to purchase beer and wine, it is readily available in other towns that are only 6 miles from our resort community. For the families that call White Lake home, it seems that the dangers far outweigh any economic gain that White Lake would reap from the passage of this referendum.

Proponents have touted that passage would possibly attract a grocery store or other businesses. Previously, this idea was floated regarding the town of Bladenboro. It seems that the grocery store chains refused to even consider such a small town and White Lake’s year round population is even smaller than Bladenboro’s. 

The passage of this referendum would not be advantageous to the citizens and Town of White Lake.”

A referendum to allow for the sale of malt beverages and wine countywide failed in Bladen County in 2014.

About Author