The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/16/07 Section: News

Media Credit: JOSH WEISS Derek McTavish (right), 28, hands William Harrison (left), 27, his glass of beer during happy hour at Copper Creek Saturday night. The Athens-Clarke County Government has proposed changes that would limit happy hour specials downtown. [Click to enlarge]

Athens-Clarke County commissioners on the Legislative Review Committee meet tonight to discuss proposed revisions to the alcohol ordinance.

The Committee's meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in room 103 of City Hall.

At an Aug. 7 commission meeting, the board agreed with Commissioner Elton Dodson's recommendation to hold a door person permit provision, as well as one banning "Ladies' Night" drink specials, until October to allow more community discussion. The board voted to hold other proposed revisions until September, including a $1 minimum on drinks, ending drink specials at 11 p.m. and completion of a training program for all bartenders and bouncers.

A provision changing the age limit of bartenders and bouncers from 18 to 21 was held until September. But at a meeting on Monday the provision was dropped as part of an agreement to go forward with the door person permit provision.

"I thought it was a very productive conversation," said Dodson.

Commissioner Alice Kinman said the revisions to the ordinance are a matter of "aligning local laws with state laws," but there are some controversial provisions, including the proposed permit for bouncers.

The permit provision proposes a background check and online course for doormen and those with criminal records would be ineligible.

At Monday's meeting bar owners suggested using service industry cards instead and removing the required background check. If workers were cited for serving alcohol underage then cards could be suspended or revoked.

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