Wilton is drinking a toast.

On Election Day, voters passed a ballot measure, 2,363 to 1,801, allowing the sale of alcohol in town under package store permits. It needed 1,200 votes to pass.

Liquor stores had been banned in town since Prohibition. In 1992, voters rejected a proposal to allow liquor stores but allowed hooch in restaurants until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. For some time, petitions had been swirling around the conservative village to bring back package stores.

"We don't need liquor in our town. It will attract the wrong crowd and send the wrong message about our values," says resident Peter James, who voted no.

"It's about time," says Cindy Frances, who voted yes. "It's a pain to drive over to Norwalk just to get a bottle of wine for dinner, especially with gas so expensive."

But residents will have to hold off toasting, because the Board of Selectmen now has to enact a local ordinance, which could take a few months. Also, under state law, no more than seven liquor stores would be allowed in town, and beer sales in grocery stores wouldn't be permitted unless a petition for the store gets 10 percent of Wilton's voters.

So, keep that champagne on ice.