The recent decision of the Winchester City Commission to draft an ordinance allowing Sunday liquor sales here for local microbreweries is a step in the right direction, and may boost business for several establishments here.

Should such an ordinance finally be adopted, it may also prompt additional businesses to locate here, and may result in future ordinances expanding Sunday sales even further.

Those opposed to such a slackening of liquor laws have genuine concerns, but those concerns should not be illustrated with hyperbole, predicting the most dire consequences for such a change.

Like many laws, this one will have to be examined over time. And it is refreshing to see many comments on the law, both on social media and through comments in this paper.

Perhaps a short history is in order, although the history of fermented spirits is far from short. There is evidence such fermented liquids existed as long as 12,000 years ago.

Much more recently, the early settlers of this country, some 400 years ago, were not averse to partaking of alcoholic drinks. It has been suggested the ships carrying settlers to this new land served more beer and ale than water on the voyages.

In colonial times it was not uncommon for men, women and even children to partake of beer or ale with every meal. This was not because our forebears chose to be besotted brethren; it was because water supplies were often questionable, whereas fermented drinks could be more readily depended on to provide safe sustenance.

Cholera is far more easily spread by tainted water than through processed wines, beers and ales.

Our country was still young when early temperance movements began, as early as 1789. These movements were initiated and primarily “manned” by women, many of whom suffered abuse from men directly related to drunkenness.

Maine became the first dry state in 1851, outlawing all alcoholic beverages there.

In 1919, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution introduced national prohibition, which led to not only an increase in lawlessness through bootlegging and speakeasies, but the diminution of taxes going into the federal coffers .

It took 14 years for the government to finally wake up and repeal the 18th Amendment with the 21st, adopted in 1933. Perhaps it was just circumstance that this was the first year of Franklin Roosevelt’s terms in office, the beginning of a more liberal temperament in the country.

The numerous state and local laws prohibiting Sunday sales of liquor are the lingering result of the years of prohibition. Maybe it is not too surprising that, 86 years after the repeal of prohibition, laws are being relaxed all across the country.

Those who favor this local move suggest it will be progressive, and it may well encourage new business here and support already-established businesses.

Opponents question whether the relaxation of Sunday sales of liquor will result in the type of progress the community wants … or needs.

Both viewpoints may, in some respects, be correct. Time will tell

In the meantime, it is an experiment in social engineering, and it may be neither those suggesting vast benefits nor those foreseeing a dismal failure are either entirely wrong or entirely right.

But many laws are formulated without fully knowing what the outcome might be.

Considering those who preceded us had no qualms about imbibing on Sunday (because of necessity), this change may turn out to be nothing more than a flash in the pan, rather than an explosion.

Chuck Witt is a retired architect and a lifelong resident of Winchester. He can be reached at chuck740@bellsouth.net.