Comments on: Liquor Licenses as Weapons

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:56:51 +0000

Will,
I can’t see how I am “mistaken.” I clearly wrote that the alderman does not want any more bars or liquor stores, and the link provided explains the exception for restaurants.
I appreciate the rest of your comments. It is a very good thing, in my opinion, that “local political officials can do very little to restrict the absolute number of licenses.” They shouldn’t be able to restrict the number of licenses at all. The lack of the power to generally do that is one of the reasons I think our liquore laws in Missouri are better than in most other states.

By: Elkin Kistner

Elkin Kistner — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:42:32 +0000

That aldermen in the city lack the power to vote at the Board of adjustment is irrelevant to the calculus of whether they effectively control zoning decisions; they always have had nearly de facto control over the outcome of such decisions. And the fact that this particular excise official has been charged with extortion is not surprising, at least based on my personal experience.

By: Will

Will — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:43:28 +0000

You are mistaken about the 20th ward liquor bill–it does not restrict the number of licenses, but it does require that new licenses make a percentage of their sales in food sales, essentially restricting the licenses to establishments that provide food. Additionally, the 20th ward is not the only area in the city that has these types of restrictions; they are found in other parts of the City of St. Louis. I know of no place in the City of St. Louis where there are out-right limitations on the number of licenses. My experience with the City of St. Louis is that in fact, outside of the restriction legislation noted above, local political officials can do very little to restrict the absolute numbers of licenses. For example, even if zoning regulations restrict licenses, applicants can apply for a zoning adjustment, in which aldermen do not have either a formal or informal veto.

By: T Hobbs

T Hobbs — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:22:41 +0000

I think you should visit Springfield and check how “zoning by other means” impacts holders of such licenses.

By: Eapen Thampy

Eapen Thampy — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:17:07 +0000

Here in Columbia there are periodic issues with liquor license renewal. Sometimes there are other issues where the business owes back sales tax, but there are whispers (and sometimes more than whispers) about who stands to gain from the closing of a bar or restaurant in a valuable location and why a liquor license might be approved late or sent later.

If you’re interested in talking to some of the folks here who’ve had these issues I can point you towards a couple friends.