A group of Pearland residents is in the middle of another campaign to bring alcohol sales reform to a vote. Pearland Citizens for Economic Freedom relaunched the petition—which requires more than 7,000 signatures—after a failed attempt in the summer by Leadership Pearland, a program sponsored by the Pearland Chamber of Commerce. Current laws dictate establishments must have a food and beverage permit in order to sell alcohol within city limits, according to officials. To qualify for the permit, a business must gain at least 50 percent of gross sales tax revenue from food sales. “I encourage people to look past the knee-jerk reaction to alcohol,” PCEF co-chairman Seth Thompson said. “This isn’t just about bars and liquor stores: this is about keeping sales tax in Pearland.” PCEF argues the alcohol sales restrictions hinders Pearland’s economy by banning certain businesses and forcing residents to spend their money outside the city. “All the infrastructure, street improvements and everything that’s needed to support [this] size of community needs additional sales tax revenue to pay for it,” Thompson said. PCEF has until Jan. 11—60 days after receiving the petition—to collect signatures. If the required number of signatures are gathered, the measure will be put on the ballot in the city of Pearland in May, officials said. Signers must be registered voters living within city limits. About 2,500 signatures were collected as of Dec. 10, officials said. PCEF is still accepting volunteers. “It’s starting to pick up steam,” Thompson said. “We definitely need more support from the community and people to show up to volunteer to get more numbers out there.”