Many Dollar General stores now carry beer and wine, but some in the Darlington County town of Lamar are putting up a fight.
Reverend Melvin Flail said he was deeply disturbed when he learned Dollar General had applied for a permit to sell beer and wine at its Lamar store. It's right across the street from Lamar United Methodist Church where Flail is the head pastor.
"This close to the church, we felt like we needed to take some type of action to deal with it," he said.
So, they filed a protest with the state revenue department. Reverend Flail said he is mandated by the Methodist Church to provide a safe sanctuary for the 48 children who are at the church on a weekly basis.
"We're not beating the drum against alcohol and beer or anything of this nature, but we are beating the drum to keep the children and youth safe from intrusive things while they're here in organizations of the church," Flail said.
Lamar Police Chief Charles Woodle said the town has filed a protest too. Chief Woodle says according to state law, Dollar General's permit should be denied. State law requires a business that sells alcohol be 300 feet from a church, school or playground.
He says the Dollar General is roughly 200 feet from Lamar United Methodist and True Faith Prayer Hall. "You got two churches plus you have a library that's basically right next to Dollar General. By law it has to be over 300 feet and it's less than 300 feet," he said.
Company officials with Dollar General didn't respond to the protests, but said they already have a couple of hundred stores in South Carolina that are selling alcohol. They believe there's an opportunity to provide value and convenience to their shoppers who want to buy beer.
We'll let you know what the state decides. There's no word yet on when the state administrative law court will hear the protests.
What do you think? Should the store sell alcohol at that location? Leave your comments below.
