Alcohol question faces Jackson voters April 4

On April 4, Jackson voters will decide a question asking whether the city should allow sales of intoxicating liquor by the drink.

The city already allows liquor licenses for packaged alcohol and for beer and wine up to 5 percent alcohol by volume.

However, because of a Prohibition-era Missouri state ordinance, cities whose population are under 19,500 must have a ballot measure on the books indicating an affirmative vote to allow retail sales of intoxicating liquor by the drink.

Jackson’s population was 13,758 at the 2010 census.

Joe Hobbs, owner of Barrel 131 in Jackson and Wings Etc. in Jackson and Cape Girardeau, said he hopes the measure passes.

Hobbs said this ballot measure is a question, not an ordinance.

“A state-level ordinance requires this exact action in order to issue a full [retail by the drink or] RBD license,” he said.

Hobbs said he became aware of this issue last year when looking to establish Barrel 131. The business, which opened its doors earlier this month, offers wine, craft beers and spirits to patrons.

Hobbs was working to secure proper licensing when a state liquor agent noticed Jackson’s population and informed him of the Missouri state law.

“Nobody knew this ordinance existed until we asked questions,” Hobbs said, so he went to the city administration.

“Folks at the city were extremely helpful,” Hobbs said, and worked out the ballot measure as a potential solution. If the measure passes, “it will make our life a little easier,” Hobbs said.

He said Barrel 131’s current license requires some reporting to the state and meeting other guidelines, “which is fine, but if we didn’t have to do that, it would be easier on us.”

Hobbs said the measure would benefit new businesses looking to open in Jackson by eliminating a layer of bureaucracy in the license-application process.

“I think it would open up possibilities for more businesses to do similar things like we’re doing,” he said.

If the measure is rejected, nothing changes, Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs said; however, if it passes, “this puts Jackson on a level playing field with a city larger than us and recognizes new products that are on the market today.”

Many craft beers on the market now are higher than 5 percent alcohol by volume, Hahs said.

“I think there’s a change in the business climate,” he said. This measure “expands up to what we’re seeing in these days of craft beers and other drinks.”

The measure also simplifies the process of obtaining a liquor license, Hahs said, which is good for existing businesses and for recruitment.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

131 N. High St., Jackson, Mo.