Councilman Schilling Talks About Alcohol

And asked, "When is enough, enough?"

While Monday’s Troy City Council meeting was filled with routine legislative matters, the meeting featured a notable monologue initiated by Council Member Jeff Schilling, who raised significant concerns about alcohol activity in the city's stance on licensing of alcohol establishments in the city. This discussion marked a pivotal moment where a council member provided unique insights on an issue of community importance..

It appears that Mr. Schilling's remarks were prompted by a recent council decision to approve an application for an alcohol dealer to establish an establishment in the downtown district, by importing an alcohol license from another area of the state, through the state’s TREX process. This publication has talked about the state’s liquor licensing process here:

A Look at Ohio's Liquor Licensing

He drew a compelling parallel between this decision and the council's previous, more cautious approach to cannabis dispensaries, highlighting what he perceived as an inconsistency in the council's stance on substance regulation.

The councilman emphasized several key points to support his argument. First, he noted that alcohol is more addictive than cannabis, a fact supported by medical research. He also pointed out that alcohol is more frequently involved in domestic violence incidents compared to cannabis. Furthermore, Schilling argued that excessive alcohol consumption poses a greater danger to law enforcement officers than cannabis overconsumption.

In a particularly striking comparison, Schilling suggested that if there were concerns about a cannabis epidemic in schools, then logically, there must be a "river of alcohol running down the hallways" of school buildings, given the prevalence and accessibility of alcohol in the community. He bolstered his argument by citing recent confirmation from the U.S. Surgeon General that alcohol consumption is directly linked to certain types of cancer.

Schilling then presented some sobering statistics about alcohol availability in Troy. He reported that within the city limits, there are 50 or more alcohol establishments, all operating with state permits through various types of dispensaries, including restaurants, drive-throughs, convenience stores, and retail grocery stores. Notably, four of these dealers have imported permits from other areas of the state, through the state’s TREX process, indicating that Troy has already exhausted its state-allotted supply of alcohol dealer permits.

While Schilling clarified that he was not advocating for a complete ban on alcohol dealers in Troy, he posed a critical question to the council: "When is enough enough?" He challenged his fellow council members to consider whether businesses in Troy could be successful without selling alcohol, pointing out examples of thriving alcohol-free establishments and failed businesses that held alcohol permits.

The councilman's personal experience as a cancer survivor added weight to his argument. He shared his involvement in fundraising for cancer research institutions, particularly the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Ohio State University. This personal connection to the health impacts of alcohol consumption seemed to inform his stance on the issue.

Schilling concluded his remarks with a powerful appeal to his colleagues. He urged them to reconsider their support for the growth of alcohol establishments in Troy, arguing that if they had correctly decided against supporting cannabis in the city, they should apply the same logic to alcohol. This call for consistency in policy-making could spark a broader discussion among the community about the city's approach to substance regulation.

The discussion then shifted to the legal aspects of alcohol permit regulation. The City’s Law Director provided some insight, explaining that while the approval process is not automatic; the legislative authority does have a say in approving permits.

This discussion highlighted the complex interplay between public health concerns, economic considerations, and policy stances that the city council must navigate when making decisions about substance regulation, especially when it comes to TREX permits in the community.. It also underscored the ongoing debate about the consistency and fairness of policies regarding different substances, particularly in light of changing societal attitudes and emerging health research.

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