El Dorado News-Times

Council delays beer, wine permit request for movie theater

- By Tia Lyons

Following an initial vote of 4-3 Thursday, the El Dorado City Council later agreed to delay action on a request for a city permit to serve beer and wine in the area’s only movie theater.

Stars Cinema is following a national trend in which movie theaters across the country are offering new services and features to improve the movie-going experience for audiences and to compete with the growing popularity of other options, such as on-demand and streaming services.

Stars is applying to the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control for a permit to sell beer and wine.

A city permit would also be needed for alcohol sales.

Mayor Frank Hash and City Attorney Henry Kinslow said Thursday that Stars representa­tives initially said they wanted to wait for the AABC’s decision, which is expected by July 1, before applying for a city license, but decided to lay out their plan before city officials. Stars proposes to: • Continue to provide the weekend services of an off-duty El Dorado police officer, who will work security and undergo AABC training, monitor the point-of-sale register and patrol theaters to ensure that minors do not come into contact with alcohol.

• Use a black light to detect fake IDs, per AABC suggestion­s.

• Use wristbands and/ or black-light stamps to identify customers who have purchased alcohol.

• Retrain Stars’ staff in removing and disposing of alcoholic beverage containers that are left by customers.

• Allow AABC agents to train employees that are involved in alcohol sales to identify fake IDs and legally sell beer and wine.

• Install extra surveillan­ce cameras to closely supervise alcohol sales.

• Use one register in the concession stand for beer and wine sales. A trained

staff member will check every ID that is presented for such sales.

Kinslow said the AABC “controls the initial (permit applicatio­n),” and the city sets the conditions under which beer and wine will be sold, such as the hours that such sales are permitted within city limits.

“I guess they don’t want to go to the trouble of getting a state license if the city doesn’t support it,” Kinslow said.

Alderman Mike Rice said he supported the Stars request.

“It’s a private business.

If they want take their business in that direction, they can do that. A lot of movie theaters are doing it,” Rice said.

Alderman Judy Ward agreed, saying, “I believe in free enterprise.”

Because Lions Club Municipal Golf Course is owned by the city, Ward explained that she did not support a previous request by a former Lions Club concession­aire to sell beer and wine at a publicly-owned facility.

Hash advised aldermen that they are obligated to protect the public, noting that children frequent

Stars.

“I don’t think it’s fair to scrutinize this business when children go to restaurant­s where beer and wine are served,” Ward said.

Hash contended that parents often accompany and supervise children in restaurant­s.

“They’re often not under supervisio­n at the movies. In fact, they’re often dropped off,” Hash said.

The council voted 4-3 in favor of the request.

Aldermen Vance Williamson, Mary McAdams and Tony Henry voted no. Alderman

Billy Blann was unable to attend the meeting.

Kinslow said he was not sure if the vote could stand or if a majority vote by the full council was needed to settle the matter.

Hash said Blann was traveling outside the U.S. and asked if city officials should wait until Blann returns to take action on the request.

Later, Ward asked for clarificat­ion, saying she thought the vote was to authorize Hash to sign the city permit.

Alderman Willie McGhee suggested that the council

invite a representa­tive from Stars to a future council meeting to discuss the issue.

“It would be in an open forum so the public can hear what they want to do,” McGhee said.

Hash said he would place the request on the agenda for the next regular council meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 5, but the date may change due to Independen­ce Day.

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