Lubbock marks five years of getting its drink on

Scroll through to see which counties ban alcohol sales. less As of June 2014, there are 11 Texas counties — mostly in West Texas and the Panhandle — that ban the sale of all types of alcohol, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. 49 counties — including Bexar — are completely wet, or allow the sale of alcohol in all parts of the county. The remaining 194 counties are wet/dry combinations. Scroll through the slideshow to see which Texas counties still ban alcohol sales. As of June 2014, there are 11 Texas counties — mostly in West Texas and the Panhandle — that ban the sale of all types of alcohol, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. 49 counties — ... more Photo: Courtesy Of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Photo: Courtesy Of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Lubbock marks five years of getting its drink on 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

Five years after a vote to allow the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption within city limits, Lubbock residents still debate the consequences.

Roughly two thirds of the 50,177 residents who voted in the 2009 referendum backed the sale of all alcohol for "off premises" consumption, according to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission records. More than two thirds supported the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants in a separate vote.

As of June 2014, there are 11 Texas counties — mostly in West Texas and the Panhandle — that ban the sale of all types of alcohol, according to the TABC.

49 counties — including Bexar — are completely wet, or allow the sale of alcohol, including beer and liquor, in all parts of the county.

The remaining 194 counties are wet/dry combinations, meaning that some parts of the county do not allow alcohol sales.

Melissa Pierce, who headed a political action committee that backed expanding alcohol sales, told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal she believes quality of life in the city has improved.

"Personally, I think it's great. Things are normal; you'd never know the difference," she said. "I mean things haven't gotten worse like many predicted."

On the opposite side, Brant O'Hair, who led a PAC aiming to shoot the measure down, told the Avalanche-Journal, "It's a slow, insidious influence, and just in public in general no one's going to notice any difference 'cause it's a slow change."

"I'm sure there are kids in certain parts of town, whose alcoholic father that's out of a job and has no car, is spending money instead of on food he's going to the convenience store now before he couldn't readily walk to the Strip, that kind of thing," O'Hair continued.

Scroll through the slideshow to see which Texas counties still ban alcohol sales.

jfechter@express-news.net

Twitter: @JFreports