Overview
- The City Council approved the ordinance Thursday in a 7-6 vote after a close debate.
- The law bars sales of half pints, mini and airplane bottles of liquor, and 40-ounce malt beverages in designated Retail Alcohol Impact Areas.
- The restrictions apply in corridors such as Midtown, Prospect Avenue, Independence Avenue, the Central Business District, and the Blue Ridge area, and they do not cover grocery stores.
- Under the plan, the rules take effect 60 days after implementation, though House Speaker Jon Patterson says he will seek a state amendment to block enforcement.
- City leaders, including Mayor Quinton Lucas, say the small bottles fuel crime and litter, while local shop owners warn of lost revenue, layoffs, and unfair limits that do not apply citywide.