Editor's note: As a follow-up to the article on the front page of the March 12 issue of The Post entitled “Slow economy reflected in revenue sales”, we asked our 6,000-plus Facebook friends, followers and subscribers to chime in with their thoughts on the topic. The following article, by Multimedia Correspondent Roy Mitchell, is a compilation of readers' responses.

THE INTERNET — It has been a little over a year since the city of Centre officially became “wet.” Armed with the benefit of 52 weeks of hindsight, we asked our Facebook friends if they thought Centre did the right thing.

Have the benefits of alcohol sales indeed outweighed the risks? To gauge the pulse of the community, we asked how the alcohol referendums in Centre, Cedar Bluff and Leesburg have affected the citizens and their communities.

We held on tightly to the keyboard, bracing for a renewal of the verbal spars hurled so freely before each alcohol vote.

Surprisingly, responses barely touched on the benefits and risks of beer and wine sales. Instead, comments quickly turned the discussion in another direction.

Soon after The Post question about the alcohol anniversary hit the Web, Brittney Motes shared her opinion.

“They need to be more worried about meth and other drugs,” she wrote. “Alcohol can be just as bad. I understand that. However, drugs are a bigger issue in this county, not alcohol.”

The Cedar Bluff resident ended her comment emphatically: “I would rather my child drink than hit the crack pipe!”

Brittney's sentiments immediately hit home with several other Facebook friends. Seven people quickly “liked” her comment.

With the subject steered toward the priority of fighting drugs, others quickly gave their opinions. Sand Rock housewife Crystal Cleere was among the first.

“Drugs are a big thing in Cherokee County, especially up here on the mountain,” Cleere wrote. “They should focus on that and start taking care of those problems—more raids, stops, investigating, whatever it takes.”

 Dan Deems, a Cherokee County High School alum, chimed in as well.

“Do not be shocked when you find out that the majority of our problems come from legally prescribed pills,” Deems wrote. “Between prescription drug abuse and the illegal drugs, we really need to come together as a community and say, 'We will not have this crap here!'”

Leesburg resident, Marsha Armstrong, added her thoughts.

“[The law should] quit just catching and releasing drug dealers,” she wrote. “It should be one strike and you are on a road gang picking up trash for a year. Next time, two years—no free passes.”

Our Facebook friends were unanimous in their thoughts that drugs are a serious concern in Cherokee County. Are citizens as unified about recent alcohol sales decisions? Judging by Facebook discussion about alcohol, the answer appears to be the same as it was on most wet/dry ballots—an emphatic “yes.”

Heather Moon from Centre wrote: “I don't have the official numbers, but I was told the DUI's have gone down [since alcohol was legalized].”

Deems elaborated on the possibility that fewer DUI's are being issued now that local sales have been legalized.

“It does make sense,” he wrote. “The average drinker will be tempted to pop that top as soon as possible. Now they can be back at home before they can get open their beverage.”

He continued: “As far as the booze is concerned, I no longer have any use for it in my temple. However, people will do it, regardless. We may as well profit from the extra revenue in the area.”

Crystal Cleere echoed the comments of our other Facebook friends.

“People are going to drive to Rome or Gadsden or wherever to buy the alcohol, so why not get the profit in our county to help out with things?”

Larry Studdard volunteered the idea of an even further expansion of local alcohol sales.

“Legalizing alcohol county-wide probably would help even more,” he wrote.