A graph of DUI convictions in Calloway County reveals a declining trend prior to alcohol sales from 1990 through 2000 and an increasing trend after alcohol sales from 2001 through 2010.
A graph of DUI convictions in Lyon County reveals an increasing trend prior to alcohol sales from 1990 through 2000 and a decreasing trend after alcohol sales from 2001 through 2010.
A graph of DUI convictions in Marshall County reveals a slightly increasing trend before alcohol sales in Calvert City restaurants from 1999 through 2004 and a slightly decreasing trend after alcohol sales from 2005 through 2010.
Gilliland also compared average per capita DUI convictions over the past 20 years for counties throughout the Jackson Purchase that are classified as “wet” (allowing alcohol sales), “dry” (not allowing alcohol sales) and “moist” (allowing some alcohol sales). Analysis of the data shows the “dry” counties examined have the lowest average per capita DUI convictions at .76 percent, followed by the “moist” counties with .84 percent and the “wet” counties with 1.12 percent.
Gilliland compared average per capita total crime over the past 20 years for the same Jackson Purchase counties to try to determine the correlation, if any, between alcohol sales and crime in general. Analysis of the data shows the “dry” counties examined have the lowest average per capita crime at 4.817 percent, followed by the “moist” counties with 6.562 percent and the “wet” counties with 10.063 percent.
“Releasing the results of our survey and independent research should not be construed as an endorsement of one side over another. It’s simply an endorsement of the facts,” said Dave Washburn, Marshall County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors chairman. “The chamber exists to serve all of its members.”
Business Support & Opposition
In an attempt to determine how local businesses feel alcohol sales might affect them, the chamber distributed an e-mail survey on July 2 and followed up with an automated call to member businesses requesting that the survey be completed by July 9. A total of 73 chamber businesses representing 34.4 percent of the total chamber membership located in Marshall County responded to the survey. The results are as follows:
63.4 % favor alcohol sales in Marshall County
36.6 % oppose alcohol sales in Marshall County
32.9 % believe that allowing alcohol sales in Marshall County will help their business
67.1 % believe that allowing alcohol sales in Marshall County will not help their business
65.7 % believe that allowing alcohol sales in Marshall County will help local businesses in general
34.2 % believe that allowing alcohol sales in Marshall County will not help local businesses in general
Crime Statistics & Trends
To clarify the often conflicting data on crime statics that has been circulated, Marshall County Chamber of Commerce board member Gene Gilliland conducted independent analysis of Kentucky State Police data in Calloway and Lyon counties for the 10 years preceding and following the passage of alcohol sales. He also examined data from Marshall County for the years preceding and following the passage of a Limited Restaurant Local Option allowing alcohol sales in Calvert City restaurants.
Gilliland’s research shows that the average number of DUI convictions in Calloway for the 10 years preceding the passage of alcohol sales in November of 2000 was 242.5 per year while the average following the passage of alcohol sales was 282.5. This represents an increase of 16.49 percent since alcohol sales were legalized.
