Henderson voters to decide on alcohol referendum

HENDERSON, Tenn. — Voters in the city of Henderson have an additional referendum on their election ballots — whether to allow stores to sell alcohol in the city.

“There are two referendums on the ballot for city of Henderson only,” Chester County Administrator of Elections Michele White said. “The first is liquor on consumption of premises, which is liquor by the drink in restaurants, that type of facility. The other is package stores, which is liquor stores.”

Most voters we spoke with Thursday did not agree with the referendum. “I think it’s in other counties and if people want to drink the liquor, they can go somewhere else and drink it. I think Chester County is a good, clean county, and I’d like to keep it that way,” voter Becky Barham said.

Some who didn’t want to speak on camera said passing the referendum would help boost the local economy.

If passed, any business that wanted to sell alcohol would have to be approved by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

The referendum passed for the county in the 2012 election. However, no liquor stores or restaurants have been approved to sell it.

The city referendum had to be brought forth by voter petition.