Sep 11, 2008 8:54 am US/Pacific
After 170-Year Dry Spell, Mass. Town Can Sell Wine
WESTON, Mass. (CBS) ―
It's been a dry town for 170 years, but just before noon on Wednesday, Weston ended its dry spell.
"It's a big day," said Omni Foods owner Suren Avedisian.
He spent years petitioning the town to allow his store to sell alcohol, reports CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston. He says it's a matter of convenience. "Right now these customers had to go to Wayland, to Newton to Waltham to buy their beverages."
The rule allows the store to sell only wine, no beer or hard liquor, but that's fine with resident, Marie Cohen. "I think finally we're catching up to everyone around us."
But not everyone agrees, including Carole Wiley, who drinks wine, but doesn't want it sold in town. "I just don't see how making alcohol more readily available is a good thing," she said, "especially when you have so many kids in Weston in high school that are drinking."
Avedisian says every employee is trained to card anyone who looks under the age of 45. He says they're very serious about enforcing the drinking age.
The very first person to buy alcohol in the town though didn't need an ID. Former Red Sox General Manager and Weston resident Lou Gorman bought a bottle of Chardonnay.
"I love white wine he said."
Which is a little surprising, you would think he'd be partial to red!
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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