CITY HALL — Aldermen hoping to rein in rogue businesses that allow rowdy customers to bring in their own liquor approved a local BYOB moratorium Wednesday.
"It's become a common trend," said Ald. Deborah Graham (29th), who sponsored the ordinance.
"It gives control to the local alderman," added Gregory Steadman, the city's liquor-control commissioner.
Graham said the new restrictions would apply to pool halls, barbershops, nail shops and other city businesses allowing customers to bring in their own liquor. She cited a problem she had on Madison Street, with a barbershop that allowed BYOB, only to see it spur a conflict at the shop.
"It spilled out into the street," Graham said.
Otherwise, there are no city restrictions on BYOB, except that a business can't give away free liquor to attract customers.
"The city does not regulate the practice of BYOB," Steadman said.
The ordinance amendment approved Wednesday by the License Committee would allow aldermen to press for a local moratorium on BYOB, with a two-block stretch set as the minimum area. Steadman said it would function in the manner of any other local liquor moratorium.
"Restaurants that offer BYOB are exempt from this ordinance," Graham said. An earlier attempt to impose BYOB restrictions ran into opposition with aldermen defending the practice at their local restaurants.
Steadman said social clubs would also be exempt, as they're not technically city businesses, unless they're what he termed "a sham social club that's in fact operating as a city business."
Yet art galleries and, in fact, banquet halls would also be subject to a crackdown if they allowed things get out of hand. But, again, aldermen would have to submit any proposed moratorium to the council and defend it.
The ordinance would set a fine of $500-$1,000 for each violation and allow the suspension of a business license and other city licenses. It now goes before the full City Council for passage next week.
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