On behalf of the Dawson County Coalition, I’d like to thank the city officials for requesting community input as they weigh the pros and cons of extending alcohol sales to 2 a.m. With a resounding 460 to 57 vote in opposition of such a change, the community has spoken.

As we work to foster an environment that discourages excessive alcohol consumption—and by extension, sends a message to our youth about what we value—we respectfully urge the city to vote down any proposal that may come forward to extend hours of alcohol sales.

The policies we choose to adopt are a reflection of our community standards and norms. We must look at the facts—increased alcohol sales will lead to increased alcohol consumption. Nebraska already has high binge drinking ranks for both youth and adults.

The literature as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, tells us that reducing controls around the sale of alcohol will only drive these numbers up, creating a less healthy environment for young people to live and grow.