The residents of Burlington may again be asked to make a decision this fall on allowing or not the sale of alcohol in their local businesses.

One of the leading employers in the area has started once again the process of selling alcohol by getting their alcohol permits. Many folks believe that this will help the local economy.

But let’s take a real look at statistic on alcoholics.

> Alcohol is the number one drug problem in America.

> Americans spend $197 million each day on alcohol.

> More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year.

> 73 percent of all felonies are related to alcohol use.

> 73 percent of child beating cases are related to alcohol use.

> 41 percent of rape cases are related to alcohol use.

> 81 percent of all wife battering cases are related to alcohol use.

> 72 percent of stabbings and 83 percent of homicides are related to alcohol use.

The alcohol facts:

> 48 percent of people aged 12 and older are drinkers in America.

> Every day, 7,000 children in America under the age of 16 take their first drink.

> Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes.

> Someone Non-fatally injure every two minutes because of alcohol.

> The economic cost of alcohol abuse in America is estimated to be approximately $185 billion each year.

Why would you want to allow this to happen in Burlington when you can stop it now? This is no more than a greedy corporation using the people of Burlington for their personal gain.

Be careful that you choose to vote wisely if this comes up in the fall election.

Be very careful if you decide to open Pandora’s Box of alcohol sales in Burlington. When you open the box, you will open the door for other businesses to follow their example.

Yes, economically it looks very good, but if you destroy the ability of your people to work or function within society, then you are not working for the good of the people in the community in which you serve.

Dr. Scott Mann

Burlington