Jacksonville Council takes first step to revising liquor ordinance

The Jacksonville City Council took a formal step toward amending the rules that limit consumption of hard liquor here.

The council held a first reading of an ordinance that would remove, for business location purposes, the label of “school” as applied to Jacksonville State University. The change would allow restaurants within 500 feet of the campus to sell liquor for the first time.

The reading of the proposed ordinance is required before the City Council can vote on it at a later meeting.

Even if the ordinance is approved, bars as such that are within 500 feet of JSU would still be prohibited from selling liquor.

Councilman Jerry Parris said he thinks residents will notice little change if restaurants that sell beer near the university are granted permission to sell liquor, too.

During the meeting Blaine Price, who said he manages two Jacksonville bars, including Pelhams, called on the council to extend the same liquor sales privileges to bars as it is thinking about giving restaurants near the churches.