Council Gives Final Approval to Ward 6 Ban on Single Sales
(Washington, DC) – On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, Council gave final approval to legislation introduced by Councilmember Tommy Wells adding Ward 6 to other parts of the city prohibiting the sale of single containers of alcohol; specifically, single containers of beer, malt liquor, and ale, as well as spirits in bottles of half pint or smaller.
“Over the last year, I heard increasingly from neighborhood leaders and our elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners that they wanted Ward 6 added to the growing list of wards prohibiting the sale of singles,” commented Mr. Wells. Wards 4, 7 and 8 have previously enacted similar bans on single sales. The legislation passed on Tuesday adds Ward 6, Ward 2 and parts of Ward 1.
“More often than not, single sales of alcohol are bought so they can be consumed as soon as you walk out the door – turning alleys and backyards into public restrooms and leaving empty bottles strewn through our neighborhoods,” stated Wells.
Mr. Wells cites the struggle many neighborhoods face when protesting liquor stores that are not good neighbors, and singled out ANC 6A in his ward. The Commission began the formal process to ban the sale of singles on part of H Street, NE almost four years ago. It took roughly three years of hard work to get a moratorium in place, and after all the hurdles, the measure still had to come before Council for approval.
In the 6 months after the targeted H Street moratorium went in effect, MPD reported that service calls and arrests for public drinking, public urination (indecent exposure), drunk in public, and disorderly conduct were significantly decreased. Neighborhood leaders have also reported a decrease in litter and loitering.
Wells added, “While we added Ward 6 to growing list of wards banning singles, this legislation takes a slightly different approach and put more power in the hands of the neighborhood to shape what’s best for the community.”
The Ward 6 ban allows a licensee to apply for an exemption from the ban, provided that the store has a positive track record in the neighborhood and the community and ANC support such an exemption. Currently, ANCs can enter into a voluntary agreement with a liquor store to stop selling singles, but they have very little leverage and often complain the agreements are weak and cannot be enforced. This provision changes that relationship and puts leverage back in the hands of the neighborhood. The ABC Board will be the body that makes a final decision on the exemption application.
20 comments:
This is excellent news. No, it won't end panhandling, public urination, litter, etc., but it should cut down on it noticeably. And that's a more concrete step toward neighborhood stabilization than most people may realize. Especially since it evens the playing field so that all of Ward 6 is covered, not just the wealthy areas with the resources to fight against singles sales and the resulting crap they bring.
That's great! But why are these rules decided ward by ward? What about ward 5 which has been the most crime ridden part of the city in the past year?
Man, I support this, I really wish this wasnt necesary. I hate the litter, but I like getting 24 ounce beers on occasion, especially for parties. Also nice 750 ml bottles of speciality beers. I guess on balance its a net positive.
"The Ward 6 ban allows a licensee to apply for an exemption from the ban, provided that the store has a positive track record in the neighborhood and the community and ANC support such an exemption."
I'd venture to guess a place selling a 750ml "specialty beer" will be exempted...unless of course they have had previous history of selling Sammy Smiths to 19-year olds.
I hate the fact this stupid law is being passed because the perfectly good "no public drunkeness" laws aren't being enforced. I'm being selfish, but this pretty much puts an end to sales of mix & match six packs, airline bottles of booze, and a lot of specialty beers that don't come in 4-6 packs (like Rogue or Ommegang) which are three things I enjoy a lot. I'm forced to put a lot of (undeserved IMHO) faith in the exemptions being created properly. Once the public drunks switch to six packs or full bottles of wine what then?
I promise you that Schneiders will be one of the places that can still sell singles (with ANC approval). You probably won't find any 20/20 or Icehouse tallboys though...who the hell uses airplane bottles?
The "no public drunkeness" laws are unfair, in that you can say that those who drink single serves are also victims. They are alcoholics and economically deprived. It is unfair to have just one set of laws that target that class, and no set of laws that target the merchants who financially benefit from the single sales. This moratorium helps make the entire supply chain accountable for that filth on our streets.
They will just pool their monies together and buy a 6pack..Duh...
They need to start arresting the drunks, but oh wait to much resources and time take up..No it's not if you are just sitting in a parked police car doing nothing....
now if someone would just COMMUNICATE the ban to the folks on the corner of 3rd and H, asap.
who the hell uses airplane bottles?
Me, when packing for a flight. example- I prefer Makers Mark and planes usually only carry Jack Daniels and charge you out the wazoo for that privilege.
Mojotron, your single-serving friend
This is all the more reason citizens of Trinidad should fight for, if not a ward five ban, at least a ban in Trinidad, which alone has four liquor Stores that sale singles. I hope there isn't an influx but it's only a few blocks away.
-Robby
seriously, how is this enforcement communicated to the liquor stores? does someone mail them something? does someone go in and speak with them?
Poo Poo, I emailed Charles at Tommy's office to ask when this goes into effect, how stores are notified, and what a citizen should do if a store is not obeying the ban.
I responded to lk's email, but figured I'd post the response here as well:
Regarding the effective date of the ban, we don’t know an exact date yet. The legislation must go through Congressional review (required by all DC laws) and given the timing of when they are in and out of session, we can’t nail down an exact date. By my rough estimate though, it’ll likely be early January. When we get an exact date, we’ll work to get that information out to the community.
Regarding notice to the liquor stores, ABRA and the ABC Board will send notification and details of the law. When the ANC 6A H Street moratorium was put in place last fall, the Board and ABRA contacted each business. They’ll do the same ward-wide now.
Once the ban is in effect, violations can be reported to ABRA and the ABC Board. They have undercover enforcement officers that periodically try to buy singles and test to ensure the law is being followed. When notified about possible violations, they send these officers to the store in question.
Hope that helps answer your questions and please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Best,
Charles
**********************************************
Charles Allen, Chief of Staff
Councilmember Tommy Wells - Ward 6
www.TommyWells.org - website
As a homeowner on 3rd and H, I could not be more thrilled. Thank you Tommy.
Not only am I happy that my front yard will not be used as a garbage can as much as before, but I also enjoy the fact that the guy who would rather have litter all over my block can no longer by cheap airline bottles for his flight. That just makes me smile.
haha, j ro! pretty funny. i live nearby, so i'm also thrilled to the bone!
1. i hope that they notify the business in korean, cuz their english is ... not so hot.
2. schneider's is going to have a brad new clientelle: the cheap arsed, in-flight boozers. :o) (which would include me, by the way. but i always shop at schneider's anyway....)
3. with the furor this will evoke from the folks that were kicked out of the other singles-banned zone (which are quite a few), it'll be years before the protective glass comes off of that place on 3rd. and H. folks are going to be so angry, they'll not only pound on the glass as they do now, they'll be threatening death to the couple that run the joint! that's why a police substation nearby is a good idea. it'll help "tear down the wall".
4. there could be an increase in muggings from the folks that can't get their little fix, and follow the big spenders to steal their GIANT stashes of booze.
5. it'll all work its way out, but it's still going to take a while. give it a few years....
oh! and thanks LK!!
It's a good thing I live across the street from Ward 5. I can get my Steel Reserve kick in any time:)
Yes, I'm sure with the single-serve ban you've solved the problems of public drunkeness, litter, and general diceyness that is the 3rd & H liquor store, as well as managed to spite a neighbor who generally sympathized with your problems but thought you were approaching it wrong.
so.... what's your sage answer "mojotron", or do you have one?
curious to hear your "solution"....
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