BYOB Vote in Ocean City

Dry NJ shore resort town weighs BYOB in Tuesday vote

Voters in Ocean City are deciding whether the threat of competition outweighs their fears of turning a vestige of the temperance movement into a destination for “Jersey Shore”-type shenanigans.

The issue is one that has roiled Ocean City for decades: whether to allow restaurant patrons to bring their own beer or wine to enjoy with dinner. The dry New Jersey seaside community calls itself “America's Greatest Family Resort”

It has been framed as a struggle between traditionalists who fear that allowing drinking at restaurants would wreck the family-friendly atmosphere Ocean City has worked hard to build, and those who say the city's struggling eateries can't afford to lose any more business to mainland restaurants that serve liquor.

Some restaurants informally tolerated BYOB until a 1984 city ordinance prohibited it. The ballot question deals only with the consumption of alcohol at restaurants; businesses still would not be allowed to sell it.

Ocean City dates to 1700, when whaler John Peck began using the barrier island as a place to store freshly caught whales. In 1879, four Methodist ministers bought what was then called Peck's Beach to establish a Christian seaside resort. One of its main features was to be a permanent ban on the manufacture and sale of alcohol, something Ocean City has used as a selling point since the 1890s.

In 1891, a city promotional ad boasted: “A striking peculiarity of this city by the sea is that there are no liquor saloons or places of questionable character within its bounds. The sale of liquor is forever prohibited, and as a result, the best classes of people are drawn here, and disorder and drunkenness are unknown.”' A 1908 ad proclaimed “many churches; no saloons,” and a 1916 ad campaign described Ocean City as “absolutely free from saloons and all kindred evils.”

The measure excludes boardwalk businesses from BYOB and sets no limit on the amount of beer or wine a customer can consume with dinner. The law would set BYOB hours from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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A commonly voiced fear among BYOB opponents is that Ocean City would become overrun with drunken young adults who have changed the reputation of other boardwalk towns along the Jersey shore. Seaside Heights is a frequently mentioned boogeyman here, as is the MTV show “Jersey Shore,” which is set there.

"Ocean City is a very special place to a lot of people," said BYOB opponent John Flood. "We feel the risk of having BYOB isn't worth the reward."

"I love the surroundings here and I'm afraid of what will happen if we allow people to bring bottles in," said Anna Livingston of Ocean City. "Our quiet town may no longer be that way."

But supporters say Ocean City's restaurants are struggling to hang on while playing at a disadvantage to competitors just a few miles away that offer full bars.

“This is about choice,” said BYOB supporter Bill McGinnity. “Right now you do not have a choice to stay in Ocean City, go to a restaurant and take a bottle of wine and enjoy it with a meal. You’re forced to leave the island to do so.”

Ocean City has lost nearly a quarter of its year-round population in just the past 10 years, falling to 11,701 residents. That, supporters say, makes it even more imperative for Ocean City businesses to keep customers in the city rather than watching them drive off the barrier island to enjoy a drink with dinner.

The Tuesday election will decide four City Council seats along with the BYOB ordinance. Polls opened at 6:00 a.m. and will close at 8:00 p..m.

"I don't want to change Ocean City," said one voter. "I voted no."

"This town was built upon a certain foundation," said Peaches Lukens who also voted no. "I just want to stick with it."

“I voted for it,” said Nick Liberato. “I think it would be nice to go out and have a nice dinner, enjoy a glass of wine instead of driving over the bridge.”

BYOB remains a sensitive issue for the town. Some people who voted yes were afraid to tell us that on camera.

•See the full proposed BYOB ordinance here.

•Information on the May 8 Ocean City municipal election is here.

•Get results here.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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