FAST FACTS:
(Nashville 2/10/2010) Tennessee Representative Curry Todd (R-Collierville) is sponsoring a bill in the legislature this year that would ban alcohol sales during certain times potentially causing a great financial impact to entertainment districts like Beale St. in Memphis.
The measure, which is still in committee, bans the sale of alcohol from midnight to 8:00 a.m. daily. There are no exceptions in the current version of the legislation.
According to Rep. Todd, a former police officer, "Usually nothing good happens after midnight. That's when most, if not all, when most folks get in trouble, get to drinking, get to shooting, killing people."
The fallout from that proposal, if enacted, would most certainly fall hardest upon restaurants, bars and other late-night businesses. Nearly every establishment on Beale St. is open until 3:00 a.m. A few establishments in the city are known to stay open even later.
Walt Baker, CEO of the industry lobbyist group Tennessee Hospitality Association, says of the potential impact, "it would be a tremendous economic disadvantage to us to have that kind of restriction put on us as we are out there trying to sell conventions and meetings."
Veteran club musician Duncan Houston says of the bill, "That's the craziest thing I have ever heard. He must all think we are five-year-olds."
Rep. Todd is also sponsoring another bill that could impact the liquor business if passed. That legislation requires businesses with alcohol sales permits to submit their sales receipts to the state for review. If a business is found to generate more than 50% of its income from alcohol sales, that business would lose its liquor license.
Rep. Todd says the state Alcholic Beverage Commission already has rules in place mandating a similar limit, but the organization hasn't enforced it.
Last year, Rep. Todd was in the news frequently as the sponsor of the "guns in bars" law which allows gun carry permit holders to carry their weapons into establishments which serve alcohol with certain restrictions. That law was eventually struck down by a judge.
You can read the proposed legislation banning alcohol sales during certain times by clicking here.
You can read the proposed legislation requiring businesses to submit liquor sales figures by clicking here.
- Rep. Curry Todd proposes law banning alcohol sales during certain times
- Bill still in legislative committee
- Rep. Todd also sponsored controversial "guns in bars" law
(Nashville 2/10/2010) Tennessee Representative Curry Todd (R-Collierville) is sponsoring a bill in the legislature this year that would ban alcohol sales during certain times potentially causing a great financial impact to entertainment districts like Beale St. in Memphis.
The measure, which is still in committee, bans the sale of alcohol from midnight to 8:00 a.m. daily. There are no exceptions in the current version of the legislation.
According to Rep. Todd, a former police officer, "Usually nothing good happens after midnight. That's when most, if not all, when most folks get in trouble, get to drinking, get to shooting, killing people."
The fallout from that proposal, if enacted, would most certainly fall hardest upon restaurants, bars and other late-night businesses. Nearly every establishment on Beale St. is open until 3:00 a.m. A few establishments in the city are known to stay open even later.
Walt Baker, CEO of the industry lobbyist group Tennessee Hospitality Association, says of the potential impact, "it would be a tremendous economic disadvantage to us to have that kind of restriction put on us as we are out there trying to sell conventions and meetings."
Veteran club musician Duncan Houston says of the bill, "That's the craziest thing I have ever heard. He must all think we are five-year-olds."
Rep. Todd is also sponsoring another bill that could impact the liquor business if passed. That legislation requires businesses with alcohol sales permits to submit their sales receipts to the state for review. If a business is found to generate more than 50% of its income from alcohol sales, that business would lose its liquor license.
Rep. Todd says the state Alcholic Beverage Commission already has rules in place mandating a similar limit, but the organization hasn't enforced it.
Last year, Rep. Todd was in the news frequently as the sponsor of the "guns in bars" law which allows gun carry permit holders to carry their weapons into establishments which serve alcohol with certain restrictions. That law was eventually struck down by a judge.
You can read the proposed legislation banning alcohol sales during certain times by clicking here.
You can read the proposed legislation requiring businesses to submit liquor sales figures by clicking here.
