Evanston aldermen Monday agreed to redraft a proposed change to the liquor code to avoid interfering with sales practices of some major beer retailers in town.
For reasons not specified in a staff memo and never explained at the City Council meeting, the Liquor Control Review Board decided in a meeting last November to recommend a ban on the bundling of individual beer bottles into sets for sale, other than as part of the distributor’s original packaging.
That brought a complaint from Jeff Hill of World Market stores, who said it would appear to make illegal the store’s practice of offering customers the option of mix-and-matching bottles of craft beer from various suppliers into their own custom six pack.
And Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said she’d received a similar complaint from Whole Foods Markets.
Currently a city ordinance bar the sale of single containers of beer of less than 40 ounces, but it’s silent about the sale of containers that add up to more than 40 ounces but less than a six pack.
Alderman Don Wilson, 4th Ward, said he didn’t understand why single container sales should necessarily be banned.
Alderman Judy Fiske, 1st Ward, responded that there were good reasons for such a ban, but said she didn’t want to discuss it at the meeting.
In other communities politicians have claimed that single-item beer sales lead to loitering, criminal activity and littering.
Ultimately the aldermen voted to have the city attorney redraft the ordinance to permit sales of six packs, whether or not they are in the original packaging.
The revised ordinance is scheduled to be voted on Jan. 23.
Bud, Bud Lite<> Craft Beer
For a story about craft beer choices, a picture of Bud and Bud Light is used?
Bleech!
Why won’t Fiske reveal her reasons?
Judy Fiske, 1st Ward, responded that there were good reasons for such a ban, but said she didn't want to discuss it at the meeting.
Uhh…It is good to see courage in our political leaders!
When is she going to discuss her "good reasons" for the ban? If they are so "good" why won't she discuss them?
It seems from the article that she doesn't want to discuss them publicly which would be strange. The purpose of the council meetings is to discuss and debate issues in the sunshine so citizens can keep tabs on our elected officials.
That someone would make such a statement is staggering.
Liquor rule
Can't wait for the "only wealthy Evanstonians who look fashionable and not menacing when they drink can purchase alcohol" rule.