Alcohol Beverage Sale Hours Restricted in Illinois Town
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- Aldermen in this Illinois town approved an ordinance Monday which will eliminate extended hours for alcohol sales at convenience stores effective May 1, 2004, according to Quad-Cities Online, a Web site published by Moline (Ill.) Dispatch Publishing Co. LLC.
The May 1 date is when all current extended permits end. An alderman wanted to prohibit the extended hours immediately, but was overruled by the other city council members.
Rock Island's 20 convenience stores can sell liquor until 1 a.m. Nine stores have extended permits that allow alcohol sales until 3 a.m., according to the news report.
"We're passing this because we have a social problem in the city,'' the alderman, Frank Forlini said.
Another alderman, Terry Brooks, said he would like to change the ordinance in the future to prohibit hard liquor sales at all Rock Island convenience stores. In addition to the numerous late-night police calls at these stores, Ald. Brooks said having liquor behind the counter directly above the candy children purchase sends a bad message to youth, Quad-Cities Online reported.
"The problem I have is the effect these stores have on certain neighborhoods. "Some of these convenience stores are truly liquor stores. I think the problem with the quality-of-life issues hits us right in the face,'' Ald. Brooks said, Quad-Cities Online reported.
The new ordinance does not affect bars or restaurants in the city.
The May 1 date is when all current extended permits end. An alderman wanted to prohibit the extended hours immediately, but was overruled by the other city council members.
Rock Island's 20 convenience stores can sell liquor until 1 a.m. Nine stores have extended permits that allow alcohol sales until 3 a.m., according to the news report.
"We're passing this because we have a social problem in the city,'' the alderman, Frank Forlini said.
Another alderman, Terry Brooks, said he would like to change the ordinance in the future to prohibit hard liquor sales at all Rock Island convenience stores. In addition to the numerous late-night police calls at these stores, Ald. Brooks said having liquor behind the counter directly above the candy children purchase sends a bad message to youth, Quad-Cities Online reported.
"The problem I have is the effect these stores have on certain neighborhoods. "Some of these convenience stores are truly liquor stores. I think the problem with the quality-of-life issues hits us right in the face,'' Ald. Brooks said, Quad-Cities Online reported.
The new ordinance does not affect bars or restaurants in the city.