MONROE — Cheers!

Liquor-by-the-drink referendums passed in Indian Trail, Waxhaw and Wingate on Tuesday, a decision that made restaurateurs raise a glass.

“I’m very ecstatic,” said Buddy Parker, owner of Shooters Corner Bar in Wingate.

“We love it,” said Beth Watts, manager of Rippington’s Restaurant in Waxhaw. “We are going to expand our business.”

A previous referendum permitted the sale of beer and wine in Indian Trail and Wingate, but Waxhaw only allowed beer and wine sales in grocery stores. Now, restaurants in all three towns can serve beer, wine and liquor. After passing referendums on Tuesday, Indian Trail and Wingate will also join Monroe and Waxhaw in permitting ABC — Alcoholic Beverage Control — stores within town limits.

Not everyone was happy with the results.

“It disappoints me that people could vote for something that is so dangerous to family, to life itself and to the community,” said Wingate resident Joe Larrimore. “I’ve never understood how people could accept something as dangerous as alcohol.”

In Waxhaw, alcohol referendums failed on three previous votes, but passed convincingly this year.

“Times are changing,” Waxhaw resident Paul Dvorak said. “We did what we could to slow it down, and we did for several years, but people are becoming more accustomed to this type of thing.”

Watts and Parker, the restaurant owners, said they will apply for permits as soon as possible.

Permit applications go to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, which reviews restaurants’ locations and qualifications before issuing permits. There is no set time to review the permits, but both restaurant owners hope to have their permits sooner rather than later.

Parker said he does not expect to have much change in his restaurant. “We have a lot of families in here,” he said, adding he thinks that will continue. “I’m dependent on food.”