LAST RESORT: RESORT LIQUOR LICENSES ARE NOT COMMON IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

The typical image of a resort is a spacious inn tucked away in some remote countryside complete with a lake for fishing, a pool for swimming and a course for golfing.

But according to the state of Missouri, a resort could be a dingy bar with cigarette butts littering the floor or a busy grocery with long lines. Not exactly paradise.

The state issues liquor-by-the-drink licenses, commonly known as resort licenses. Many of the businesses that get licensed are legitimate resorts. A large portion of them are not.

Under the law, any business with $75,000 in sales can get a resort license if at least $50,000 of those sales are non-alcoholic. That means a convenience store, a grocery store or even a bar that has been denied a city liquor license can get one through the state.

"There is no law that says you have to have a city license with a resort license," said Kenny Pincksten, District 5 supervisor with the State of Missouri Department of Public Safety Division of Liquor Control.

Every liquor establishment in Missouri must have a state license and a county license. This means that in order to sell alcohol, a business must get permission from both the state and the county. There are different types of licenses available and various fees attached to them. But there is no law requiring businesses to be licensed by a city government.

Most of the time this is not a problem. But in 1997, the Cape Girardeau City Council placed Peppy's Sports Bar, 823 S. Kingshighway, on probation because there were too many fights there. The probation lasted for six months. During that time span, one of the former managers, David Armour bought the club and renamed it Chances.

The council denied the renewal of the license after the probation, leaving Armour with no choice but to apply for a resort license from the state. He re-opened the business in March 1998. The non-alcoholic sales at the bar included cover charges.

"Our initial concern was for public safety," said Rick Hetzel, Cape Girardeau Police Chief. "Now with these resort licenses, we had a public safety issue that was continuing."

Hetzel said he did not think that the intent of the resort license was to allow businesses to get around local ordinances, but that is what has happened.

"It is becoming common knowledge that this is a way to circumvent local control," Hetzel said.

Councilman Tom Neumeyer said he cannot understand why the state would allow a business to get around city laws.

"There are reasons a city has these laws for a liquor establishment," Neumeyer said. "Most places are good places to go to relax. But you know the saying, '95 percent of the laws are made for 5 percent of the people.'"

Agreeing, councilman Jay Purcell said that a city government must have some control of the liquor establishments in order to keep the peace in the community.

"My concern is that this can happen again," Purcell said.

But sometimes going around local ordinances cannot be avoided. Pincksten said some cities have restrictions on the number of licenses the city issues. For instance in Poplar Bluff, the city will only allow one open package license per 2,000 people. The city only has about 16,000 people. As a result, there 18 businesses in Poplar Bluff with resort licenses -- 18 licenses the city does not control.

"We don't have any more troubles in our community than anywhere else," said Bill Pettet, Poplar Bluff city clerk.

The issue of local control was highlighted in a battle in Jefferson City with a bill before the Legislature requiring resort license applicants to comply with local ordinances. The bill failed. But State. Rep. Mary Kasten said she expects it to become an issue next spring.

"I suspect we will try something again," Kasten said. "It follows along my way of thinking that there should not be a way for circumventing local control."

The state has revoked the license at Chances. It had nothing to do with the problems the city has. The state maintains that the bar did not have enough non-alcoholic sales. The bar is in the process of appealing that decision.

"If you have got a $5 door charge and you have a special of all you can drink, technically you are buying alcohol," Pincksten said.

At the moment, there are no businesses in Cape Girardeau with a resort license. But several city councilmen have testified in the past to change the state laws to accommodate local control and they will do it again.

"The liquor lobby is an extremely powerful lobby," Purcell said. "They got their way. But it needs to change."

THE LOCAL COST OF LIQUOR SALES

Cape Girardeau County Liquor Licenses

The cost to obtain various liquor licenses from Cape Girardeau County. Fees and renewals are paid annually.

Liquor Wholesale Solicitor -- $500

Liquor by the Drink -- $300

Sunday Liquor by the Drink -- $200

Sunday 5% Beer by the Drink -- $200

Sunday Intoxicating Original Package -- $200

22% Wholesale Solicitor -- $200

Intoxicating Original Package -- $100

5% Wholesale Beer Solicitor -- $100

Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor -- $60

3.2% Wholesale Beer -- $50

5% Beer by the Drink -- $35

32.% Beer by the Drink -- $25

Original Wine Tasting -- $25

5% Beer Original Package for Grocers -- $15

3.2% Beer Original Package for Grocers -- $15

Types and prices of liquor licenses issued by the city of Cape Girardeau. Fees and renewals are paid annually.

Distributors or wholesalers of intoxicating liquor of all kinds - $750

5% distillers and manufacturers of intoxicating liquor - $500

Retailers of liquor under and over 5% - $450

5% malt liquor manufacturers - $350

22% wholesalers or distrubutors of intoxicating liquor - $300

Retailers of packaged liquor over 5% for Sundays - $300

Restaurants - $200

5% wholesalers and ditributors of liquor - $150

Retailers of packaged liquor over 5% - $150

Retailers of malt liquor by drink under 5% - $52.50

Retailers of malt liquor by drink under 3.25% - $37.50

Wine tasting - $37.50

Retailers of packaged malt liquor under 5% - $22.50

Caters, temporary - $10

Amusement places pay additional $300 fee.

Restaurant/Bar pays additional $300 charge for Sundays.

BUSINESSES WITH RESORT LIQUOR LICENSES

Cape Girardeau County

*Tractors Classic American Grill in Jackson

*El Terero Mexican Restaurant in Jackson

*Delmonico's in Jackson

*Bill's Catering in Jackson

*Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson

*Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson

*Pokey's Pub & Grill in Pocahontas

Scott County

*Danny's Place in Sikeszton

*Jeremiah's in Sikeston

*El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant in Sikeston

*B & D Tavern & Grill in Benton

*Bootheel Golf Club in Sikeston

*The Cactus Cantina in Sikeston

*Las Margaritas in Sikeston

*Sikeston Country Club

*Cheers in Sikeston

Perry County

*Remedies Bar & Grill in Perryville

*Harvey's in Perryville

Wayne County

*Chaonia Old Town Inn in Williamsville

*Park Road Lounge in Patterson

Mississippi County

*Wheelhouse Bar & Grill in Wyatt

New Madrid County

*Fisherman's Net in Sikeston

*Gas & Go in Portageville

Bollinger County

*Sweet Onion Grill & Bar in Marble Hill

Stoddard County

*Robbie D's in Dexter

*Hickory Log in Dexter

*Amerimart No. 17 in Advance

Butler County

*Bluff Lanes in Poplar Bluff

*Calhoun's Foods in Poplar Bluff

*Casey's General store in Poplar Bluff

*Rick's Outlet in Poplar Bluff

*Villiage III in Poplar Bluff

*Sportsman Duck Inn in Wappapello

*Dalton Gift Gallery & Rose Tea Room in Poplar Bluff

*Amoco East in Poplar Bluff

*Ramada Inn in Poplar Bluff

*Hooterville Bar & Grill in Neelyville

*Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant in Poplar Bluff

*Westwood Billiards in Poplar Bluff

*Mary Jo's Place in Wappapello

*Jerry's Restaurant & Pub in Poplar Bluff

*Sandy Girls Restaurants & Mini Mart in Qulin

*Millers House of Angus in Wappapello

*Bojangles Bar & Grill in Poplar Bluff

*Mannequins in Poplar Bluff

*Faces House of Intertainment in Poplar Bluff

*Poplar Bluff IGA

*Wal-Mart Supercenter No. 19 in Poplar Bluff

*Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff

*Yesterday's Sports Cafe in Poplar Bluff