Councilmember Wells Introduces Ward 6 Ban on Single Sales

On Tuesday, June 17, 2008, Councilmember Tommy Wells introduced legislation similar to bills moved by Councilmembers Marion Barry, Yvette Alexander and Muriel Bowser to prohibit the sale of single containers of beer, malt liquor and ale in parts of the city.
 
“As Mr. Barry, Ms. Alexander, and Ms. Bowser’s bills moved forward, I heard increasingly from neighborhood leaders and our elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners that they wanted Ward 6 added to the list of wards prohibiting the sale of singles,” commented Mr. Wells.

Citing the struggle many neighborhoods face when protesting liquor stores that are not good neighbors, Mr. Wells 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 almost 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.

Recognizing the lengths that neighborhoods must go through to get a moratorium on single sales in place, Councilmember Wells became convinced that this legislation was the best way to move forward.

Wells stated, “In addition to adding Ward 6 to growing list of wards banning singles, my legislation adds a provision that flips the presumption of voluntary agreements and puts more power in the hands of the neighborhood.”

The provision would allow Class A or B off-premises retail license holders to enter into a voluntary agreement with the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission for an exemption from the prohibition of the sale of singles. The ABC Board would be required to approve the agreement. Currently, ANCs can enter into a voluntary agreement with a liquor store, but they have very little leverage and often complain the agreements are weak and cannot be enforced. This provision changes that relationship and puts the leverage clearly in the hands of the neighborhood; giving them much needed flexibility to determine what is best suited for the needs of the residents served by the particular license holder and store.

The legislation was referred to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment.

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