Evans, a suburb of Augusta, Georgia, is in Columbia County. According to the Columbia County Code of Ordinances, an establishment that sells alcohol must be at least 200 yards away from a school or playground. Policymakers in Columbia County chose to proactively and artificially limit local youths’ exposure to alcohol retailers, which makes sense given that alcohol is the most commonly abused drug among children aged 12 to 20 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Interestingly, in Augusta, located in neighboring Richmond County, the policy governing where a business can sell alcohol is noticeably different. Except for whiskey, companies can sell alcohol 100 yards away from a school or park. Some stores sell alcohol across the street from schools, such as the Academy of Richmond County and Tubman Junior High School.
What undesirable circumstances, real or imagined, is Columbia County’s policy trying to avoid? How might these circumstances affect young people in Richmond County schools and parks? While people must accept personal responsibility for their well-being, government policies are far from insignificant. They regulate a broad range of activities, including the level of pollutants that individuals can release into the environment and the types of housing permitted in certain areas. Municipal laws are unseen forces. Laws shape the landscape of entire communities. It is worth considering exactly how they affect people’s lives.
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