Businesses

wanting to serve liquor by the drink in Fayetteville will likely face

some stiff requirements once an ordinance regulating the practice is finally

in place.

A proposed

alcoholic beverage ordinance amendment regarding distilled spirits by

the drink had its first reading at Monday night's regular City Council

meeting.

City Attorney

David Winkle is making some final adjustments to the ordinance according

to council's instructions, and a vote is expected at the Dec. 18 meeting.

Council members

are in agreement with city staff's recommendation that the on-premises

fee for liquor sales be $5,000. Asked by a resident at Monday's meeting

if that would be in addition to the $2,500 fee now in place for beer and

wine sales for those wishing to sell both, Mayor Kenneth Steele said that

was correct.

Also in the

works is a requirement that establishments selling liquor by the drink

have at least 75 percent of their total sales come from food.

This ordinance

will not allow Sunday sales, which Winkle said must be approved by a referendum

like the one conducted last month in which city residents voted to allow

liquor by the drink.

Owners of the

Village Cafe told council members at last week's workshop that while they

are not convinced that they want to sell liquor even now that it will

be legal, they would like the city to consider the Sunday beer and wine

sales issue with regard to special events like Valentine's Day, Mother's

Day and New Year's Eve, which is on a Sunday this year.

The city also

is looking into setting a minimum distance from residential areas for

establishments that sell liquor.

While there

is no state mandate like the rules regarding distances from churches and

schools, Winkle said that the City Council has a right to make such a

regulation.

If that is

done, there will also likely be some consideration of establishing separate

districts, so that businesses in the Main Street area near downtown can

have some leeway.

Several churches

are situated near the Courthouse Square, and city leaders are working

to attract more restaurants to that area