Group explores alcohol sales despite area's long dry history.(The Dallas Morning News)

Byline: Frank Trejo

DALLAS _ While the sale of most alcohol has been prohibited in Oak Cliff, Texas, since before it was even a part of Dallas, a newly formed citizens group is exploring the possibility of a local option election.

"We feel the time is right to at least conduct a professional survey of people living in JP Precinct 5, to determine what they think about the sale of beer and wine and mixed drinks," said John Cramer, manager of Citizens for Responsible Beverage Sales.

Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, which contains much of what used to be Justice of the Peace Precinct 7, includes portions of north Oak Cliff and West Dallas, as well as parts of the Stemmons Corridor and even a little bit of Oak Lawn.

"Our ultimate goal is to give the voters of Oak Cliff and West Dallas the option to decide if they want to have a local option election," Mr. Cramer said.

Group members say they are very much aware of the history of alcohol prohibition in Oak Cliff and how difficult it has been to get previous local option efforts even to the election stage. The last election was in 1960.

The group contends prohibition has had a negative impact on Oak Cliff's economic development, with restaurants and other businesses that sell alcohol avoiding the area.