Pam Mitchell is still serving wine at the Best Little Hairhouse in Vinton, and customers have taken to the idea. They're finding it fits perfectly with the whole day-spa experience.

The salon was one of the first in Virginia to take advantage of a July 2005 law that establishes a day-spa license from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

It allows Mitchell to serve up to two 5-ounce glasses of wine, one beer, or one wine cooler to her customers.

Those customers have been giving it the thumbs up.

Not so some of those commenting on roanoke.com's message board. Brushing aside the story's mention that Mitchell is allowed to serve only a small amount of wine, people posted their concerns about drunken driving.

"Who's to say these people haven't already 'sipped' elsewhere and are not legally drunk by the time they leave this "upscale" salon?" one asked. "Sounds like a perfect place to set up a sobriety checkpoint."

Others decried what they saw as a loss of family atmosphere. "A hair salon is for a family gathering, or a family type place of business, it just is not the time and place [to serve alcohol]," one wrote.

Others disagreed.

"I think it's fine not to want to go to a salon that serves alcohol. And it's also fine to have salons that do serve a one drink maximum," wrote someone who signed off as "TripleActionJones." "I just don't get the uproar."

Others missed the part about the drinks being free.

One person from Northern Virginia nicknamed "ziranthia" wrote of being able to "afford Bally's, a wine spritzer, and a day of comfort, followed up with a shopping spree at Nordstorms [sic]," adding, "[T]hat's the difference between where I live and a little country town that can't change."

The discussion also touched on social status.

Arguing over who was wealthier and classier, commentators used words like "blowhard," "dirt poor," "sugarpuss," "redneck" and "jamoke." Then the discussion got into politics and turned nasty -- a free-for-all of name-calling and abuse between total strangers, each arguing that their side was the more civilized.

A few tried to stem the tide.

"This is some of the most ridiculous stuff I have ever read in my life!!" wrote "exticmlg." "I thought this was a discussion on salons serving alcohol or did I stumble into a third grade playground fight?"

For Pam Mitchell, it isn't even about the drink.

"It's not necessarily the alcohol," she said. "It's a relaxing atmosphere, and they want to take advantage of that." For those who would prefer to skip the booze, Mitchell also offers a coffee bar.

As on the message board, Mitchell has faced some concern from customers worried about drunken, recently manicured women careening down the roads.

Not to worry, she tells them. "I'm not handing out enough to get you intoxicated."

There are, of course, some people who have moral or religious objections. For the most part, though, even these people didn't mind the idea. "They said it was no different than going to a restaurant and not having a drink when everyone around you is having one," Mitchell explained.

It isn't as if the salon is filled with giggling women. Only about half her customers partake, Mitchell said, and usually those are in the late afternoon and evening.

"After a long, tiring day, they come here to relax a little."

On the Net: www.besthairhouseandspa.com