Although, it is still necessary for the consumer to have to drive to Hamilton county in order to purchase a bottle of wine or liquor, that is really a small price to pay for choosing to live in a dry county, which is also in the midst of the Bible belt.

At least 'we the people' had the opportunity to either voice opinion or vote on those local government referendums and the majority won. State laws, however, require the people to rely on their legislators to decide and the majority of times laws get passed without the citizen even being made aware of them. That's fine if the law is in the best interest of the people, after all, we do elect our legislators to represent us. However, there are some Tennessee laws that are downright humiliating and need to be amended or even abolished.

Take for instance, the sale of wine in grocery stores. Okay, there are alcoholics amongst us, but the majority of people that buy a bottle of wine simply want to pair it with their evening meal, sip a glass on the front porch to relax in the evening, or are maybe an avid wine connoisseur wanting to try a good vintage they have read about. Times have changed since prohibition, even doctors now recommend a glass a wine "in moderation" for medicinal purposes. Many states sell wine and even spirits in major pharmacies and super centers as well as in grocery stores. Though over the past several years bills to amend the state law to allow wine in grocery stores have gained more and more public support, state legislators continue to instead vote in favor of the self-interest lobbyists.

While on the subject of alcohol another humiliating and embarrassing state law which involves the sale of alcoholic beverages, is the one that requires the retailer to check and enter into the cash register "everyone's" drivers license, regardless of age. Which means, before paying, a 75 year old senior citizen has to fumble through their wallet to prove their date of birth in order to purchase a pack of cold beer. Being carded after the age of 21 or even up to 30 is one thing, but senior citizens! One wonders if such laws were even in effect a century ago when grandma and grandpa sat in in their rockers on a hot summer night sipping ice cold mint julep.

Going to the pharmacy to pick up a new prescription is a hassle in itself. Many times the customer is told it's going to take at least an hour or more. When the hour passes the customer then has to get into, what is often a long line, in order to pick up their prescription.

No one can argue that there is not a growing drug problem in Tennessee and for that matter, across the nation, and laws need to be made to try and keep that under control, but just like the majority of Americans are not terrorists or trigger happy snipers, they are also not drug addicts or alcoholics and should not be treated that way when it comes to making laws.

.