A Berea tourism official says allowing limited alcohol sales will be great for the economic future of the southern Madison County town. Voters on Tuesday approved alcohol sales by the drink for restaurants with food sales of at least 70 percent of their total business and that can seat at least 50 people. Assistant Tourism Director Kerri Lee Hensely believes the change can produce rippling economic impacts. “This will increase opportunities for restaurants’ revenues and restaurants bring in more people and more people thus bring in more businesses and the process just goes on,” said Hensely.
Hensely says there are three to four Berea restaurants currently that could sell liquor by the drink. She says those sales may not be up and running until early next year.
Passage of limited alcohol sales by the drink in Berea could also change the town’s arts and crafts district. Hensley says the expansion could possibly help to extend activity in Old Town Berea. “Hopefully bringing in more restaurants that have later hours will keep people moving throughout the day into the evening and would thus result in more people spending the night and staying longer,” explained Hensely.
Out of more than 2,500 votes cast, supporters of alcohol sales expansion outnumbered opponents by 363 votes.
