COLUMBUS ? Residents of Cherokee County will be able to vote in November 2012 on whether to allow the sale of liquor by the drink in the county.

The county commission voted Tuesday to put the issue up for a vote. The proposal would allow the sale of liquor by the individual drink in public places without also requiring that food also be purchased. Currently, liquor may be bought in private establishments or by the bottle to take home, but may not be consumed in bars, restaurants and clubs.

Commissioner Richard Hilderbrand says several businesses had approached county leaders to support the proposal.

The Joplin Globe reports that no one spoke in opposition to the proposal.