The wait is almost over for residents of the town of Elon who want to purchase liquor by the drink without traveling to nearby cities. In a referendum on Tuesday's Nov. 8 ballot, constituents voted to pass a mixed beverage law that will allow for the sale of liquor at bars and restaurants in Elon, a change that will go into effect in January.
The vote came after local restaurant owners Peter Ustach and Jeff MacKenzie of The Fat Frogg approached the Elon Board of Aldermen last year about the town obtaining a liquor by the drink permit. The board discussed the measure in July and made a decision to put the referendum, which passed with 75 percent of the vote, on this year's ballot.
The town will receive revenue from sales tax on liquor and a portion of the actual sale of mixed drinks, and local bar owners think the option for mixed drinks will increase foot traffic and benefit retail locations in Elon — business that may have otherwise gone to bars or restaurants in Burlington.
"I hope this helps the restaurants that are here," said Josh Ezrine, owner of West End Station. "That way, if there is more foot traffic, more retail stores may come to Elon."
Bar owners in Elon said they are expecting students to respond to the availability of mixed drinks with a lot of enthusiasm at first, but they are conscious of the risks and are working to create a safe drinking environment.
"There will be a transition at first," said Gabriel Cheek, manager of College Taphouse. "They will all go nuts, but people will grow into it and find their wits. It'll be better for us, but there will be a lot more responsibility."
Both Cheek and Ezrine said their bartenders would undergo additional training for serving mixed beverages, and the bars would slowly add liquor options to the menu. Bartenders at The Fat Frogg, Ustach said, are all certified through ABC's Responsible Alcohol Seller/Server Program.
"If you work for me, you must have that certificate," Ustach said. "All my bartenders have worked in other locations that have mixed drink options, so they're prepared on that end. We're not going do anything ridiculous to encourage insane amounts of drinking."
North Carolina state law requires bartenders who mix drinks containing liquor to be 21 years or older. Cheek said bartenders at College Taphouse, who currently only have to serve beer, would need to learn how to prepare mixed beverages for customers, though they would initially not have a full-bar.
Like West End Station, College Taphouse is closed for the majority of the summer. Cheek said expanding their drink offerings could allow the bar to remain open even when most Elon students are gone.
"There is no draw during the summer for people to come drink a beer and watch TV when they could go somewhere like Brewballs in Burlington," he said. "This will be better for Elon's restaurants and bars for the non-school year to still draw people."
Alderman Ron Klepcyk said he supported the bill, above all other reasons, for its potential to bring more money back to Elon.
"If it helps current business owners or brings new business to the town, I'm in support of it," Klepcyk said. "Anything that will bring business to the town is important"