Fayetteville liquor ordinance in the works

By MONROE ROARK
mroark@TheCitizenNews.com

Although Fayetteville voters have approved liquor by the drink, don't expect any restaurants to be pouring in the next few weeks.

A more reasonable estimate for the start of liquor sales would be February, after a new ordinance is approved by the City Council governing the licensing and sales of distilled spirits, according to city staff.

Knowing before Tuesday's vote that the issue could become a reality, the City Council already set aside time at next week's annual retreat at Callaway Gardens to discuss the matter. The city attorney has already been working on a possible ordinance, City Manager Joe Morton said Wednesday.

State law requires a measure to be in place within 60 days after the election, so look for public hearings to come sometime in December and final passage by early January.

While some restaurants undoubtedly are already aware of the poll results, no one has contacted the city yet to inquire about a possible liquor license, Morton said. No applications will be taken before an ordinance is passed, because application guidelines will be a portion of that ordinance, he added.

The liquor ordinance will be similar in some respects to the city's current beer and wine ordinance, which sets certain standards for establishments that serve alcohol. For instance, a restaurant now operating with a beer and wine license must have at least 50 percent of its revenue generated from the sale of food prepared on-site.

The guidelines for the liquor ordinance will likely be the same as for beer and wine, Morton said, and the council could decide to make the food sales figure higher than 50 percent.

While proponents of the liquor referendum touted the need for more and better restaurants as their primary motivation, existing establishments such as Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday, which is set to open in early December, will likely apply as well, city staff indicated.

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