ACC to review food-to-drink ratio
Rome regulations effectively limit mixed drink sales to restaurants.
Rome venues that sell mixed drinks are required to sell at least as much food as they do liquor — a standard that’s hard to meet at nightclubs and other entertainment outlets.
The Alcohol Control Commission is slated to start a discussion tonight about possibly recommending a change.
City Clerk Joe Smith has pulled together several options, based on what’s been done in surrounding communities. For example, a Cartersville ordinance allows the Old Havana Cigar bar in that city to count tobacco-product sales toward the ratio.
Made up of three elected city commissioners and three appointed citizens, the ACC has spent the year examining the city’s alcohol regulations with an eye to encouraging new business.
The board’s recommendation to lower permit fees — and to create categories tailored for microbreweries and paint-and-sip parties — was adopted by the Rome City Commission earlier this month. Its recommendation to establish an open container district downtown was rejected.
City commissioners eliminated the 50/50 food-drink ratio for beer and wine sales several years ago. They also talked with local legislators last week about a state law requiring a 50/50 ratio for any establishment that sells beer, wine or mixed drinks on Sunday.
“We’d like to see state law changed to let that be a local decision,” Smith said.
Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, said there are opposing views on the issue, but he thinks a possible solution will be presented during the Georgia General Assembly session that starts in January.
It’s a fine line, said Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome. On one hand, the ratio is challenging for small venues, she said. On the other hand, there’s concern about the proliferation of bars. “In all honesty, that’s how we got Sunday sales passed,” she said about the ratio.
The ACC is set to look at scenarios tonight for venues that don’t sell alcohol on Sundays.
The first two options are to leave the 50/50 rule intact, or to completely eliminate the restaurant requirement at places that sell mixed drinks.
Other possibilities range from lowering the ratio to setting new standards for venues that don’t have to meet the ratio.
Also on the ACC’s agenda is the issuance of a new beer and wine package sales license at Fred’s, 1916 Redmond Circle.
The meeting will start tonight at 6 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall, 601 Broad St., and is open to the public.