Although Fayetteville voters

have approved liquor by the drink, don't expect any restaurants to be

pouring in the next few weeks.

A more reasonable estimate

for the start of liquor sales would be February, after a new ordinance

is approved by the City Council governing the licensing and sales of distilled

spirits, according to city staff.

Knowing before Tuesday's vote

that the issue could become a reality, the City Council already set aside

time at next week's annual retreat at Callaway Gardens to discuss the

matter. The city attorney has already been working on a possible ordinance,

City Manager Joe Morton said Wednesday.

State law requires a measure

to be in place within 60 days after the election, so look for public hearings

to come sometime in December and final passage by early January.

While some restaurants undoubtedly

are already aware of the poll results, no one has contacted the city yet

to inquire about a possible liquor license, Morton said. No applications

will be taken before an ordinance is passed, because application guidelines

will be a portion of that ordinance, he added.

The liquor ordinance will be

similar in some respects to the city's current beer and wine ordinance,

which sets certain standards for establishments that serve alcohol. For

instance, a restaurant now operating with a beer and wine license must

have at least 50 percent of its revenue generated from the sale of food

prepared on-site.

The guidelines for the liquor

ordinance will likely be the same as for beer and wine, Morton said, and

the council could decide to make the food sales figure higher than 50

percent.

While proponents of the liquor

referendum touted the need for more and better restaurants as their primary

motivation, existing establishments such as Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday,

which is set to open in early December, will likely apply as well, city

staff indicated .