DAMASCUS -- Voters defeated the town's liquor-by-the-drink referendum yesterday, with 146 opposed and 118 in favor.

The question was: "Should the sale of mixed alcoholic beverages by restaurants licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board be permitted in the town of Damascus?"

"I just think it's great that it was defeated," said local preacher Wayne Baker. "Anything like that usually brings trouble with it also, so I just think it's a good thing that it was defeated."

He said he expects those who favor liquor in Damascus will continue to push the issue in the future, but the town's churches will be there to push back.

"I think they will probably try again, different group, different people interested in it," he said. "If it ever comes up again we'll oppose it again."

Betty Miller, a local restaurant manager, wanted to be allowed to serve mixed drinks so visitors to Damascus would eat in the small town, rather than in nearby Abingdon or Bristol, so Damascus could benefit from the added tax revenue that would result.

She said initially there had been very little opposition; however, once local churches learned the issue would be on the ballot, they launched a campaign against it.

Pastors said that they and their churches are often the ones who help pick up the pieces for those left behind by drugs and alcohol and allowing liquor to be served by the drink in Damascus would cause more domestic abuse and alcoholism.

-- Media General News Service