Alcohol codes get another look from Cape Council

Before the year ends, the Cape Girardeau City Council will take another look at amending a section of codes regarding alcoholic beverages.

The council has considered tightening the city code in past years, and recently took the issue up most in August.

The ordinance change would have prohibited those younger than 21 from entering an establishment that sells "intoxicating liquor," without a parent or legal guardian present. It called for the prohibition of games or contests that involve drinking or awarding alcoholic drinks; selling or offering an unlimited number of alcoholic drinks during a set period of time for a fixed price; and selling alcoholic drinks at below cost. Mandatory server training -- either online or in person -- with proof of certification maintained on the premises, was another new condition.

Police chief Wes Blair said in September that he anticipated the new ordinance would affect five to seven establishments. He also said many of them indicated they supported the measure.

Certain businesses would be exempt under the proposal, including most golf courses and bowling alleys and restaurants that generate the majority of sales from food prepared on the premises.

Blair has been an advocate of tightening the ordinance because the police department encounters more frequent incidents of underage drinking at establishments that allow entry to minors.

The council ultimately decided at its Sept. 22 meeting to postpone the first vote on the proposal, citing the need for more study. City manager Scott Meyer said the postponement gave city staff time to do more research and become better prepared, should the council approve the change.

"It's a good thing," he said of the postponement. "We learned some things about [the ordinance], too, and it gave us some time to discuss it internally and just be better prepared."

They took more time to research other cities, including Springfield, Missouri, to see how their ordinances were structured and how successful they seemed to be. Meyer also said the delay gave any businesses affected by the ordinance more time to come to the city with questions or concerns.

"Any time you're impacting businesses, you want to give them as much time as you can for them to give input," he said, "and we've given them time for that and giving them time to implement any changes that might need to be made."

Meyer said he believes the city is now prepared to take action. The first reading of the ordinance will take place tonight. Should the council approve the first reading, final approval would not be given until Jan. 5, the first council meeting of next year.

If passed, the ordinance would not go into effect until June, which is when liquor-serving businesses renew licenses. This allows businesses time to complete any changes or place employees in a server training course.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.