Alcohol-serving businesses in Montgomery must now close earlier

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – A big change concerning the city’s alcohol sales was approved the the Montgomery City Council Tuesday.

The council voted 7-1 that businesses that have a license to sell alcoholic beverages must now close earlier. Such businesses will have to close at 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

This applies to on-premise sales locations, such as bars, restaurants, hotels, Riverwalk Stadium and concert venues. Grocery stores and conveniences stores are considered off-premise sales locations, so they are not affected.

The ordinance’s sponsor, Oronde Mitchell, said it’s about safety, with a goal of cracking down on nightclubs and private event venues that have been a problem in the past.

“We’re just getting a handle on these clubs, these event centers staying open until 4:00 in the morning because right now they’re able to do that, but with this ordinance, it cuts their hours,” Mitchell said. “That’ll give our officers an opportunity to know what time these clubs are actually closing down so we can make sure that we’re clearing out the street, make sure that their patrons are safe going to their vehicles.”

The only “no” vote was from Andrew Szymanski. He owns Hilltop Public House, which will be affected by the ordinance.

Szymanski said he believes the new rule is an example of government overreach, calling it a layer of bureaucracy that’s not needed because alcohol-serving businesses are already regulated by the state.

“An ordinance to me like this just limits some of the activities and also creates confusion because if the state says I can operate under these parameters, and we’re coming in saying we’re changing that, it makes things not as good for the owners out there,” he said.

Szymanski added that he wants to see how it will be enforced and how business owners will be notified.

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