By this point, we’ve established that alcohol causes money flow; it flows between manufacturers to store and bars, and eventually to the consumer. But up until now, it never dawned on me just how much a city can profit from alcohol.
According to the Chamber of Commerce here in College Station, the census from 2000 showed that the average median age of the residents is a mere 22 years and that 79% of the population is between the ages of 0 and 34. Having such a young population, the city must benefit quite a bit from the adventures of the youth here. Here’s the annual report for the Chamber for 2009-2010 which is full of interesting tidbits: http://www.bcschamber.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=na%2bD8mf2JP8%3d&tabid=3690&mid=6168
But thinking along the lines of revenue or benefits from a young population with alcohol usage, the city gets income from property taxes of the businesses (which probably aren’t cheap in areas like Northgate), the income from the pricey metered parking all along the Northgate area, along with money from citations which can include minor tickets and driving under the influence. Those citations lead to a hefty fine the offender must pay, along with a court fee and several other consequences. Almost always community service is involved, so the city gets free work done. And in severe cases, imprisonment occurs and the city may receive bail money along with the ticket fine and court fee. Meanwhile the taxpayers pay for the upkeep of the courts and jail system adding even more revenue into the mix. All these figures add up pretty quickly…
Though it can be troublesome, I’m sure College Station appreciates the business its young citizens provide, as do all other college towns.
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