INDReporter

LCG revamping alcohol rules

by Walter Pierce

Workshops for liquor license holders will be held over coming days.

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In an effort to streamline and make uniform the rules governing liquor licenses and the sale of alcohol in the city of Lafayette and unincorporated Lafayette Parish, consolidated government is unveiling a rewrite of the alcohol code. Letters to holders of liquor licenses in the city and unincorporated parish are directing them to attend workshops beginning Tuesday to review the proposed changes.

The changes will streamline the penalty and appeals process for owners of establishments that violate the rules, establish new permitting fees and make rules that already apply to holding a liquor license within the city of Lafayette apply to establishments in unincorporated Lafayette Parish.

One proposed change would step back from the so-called “go-cup ban” on open containers Downtown and at the McKinley Street and Simcoe Street “strips” and allow bar patrons to carry out alcohol in paper, plastic or Styrofoam containers.

The new ordinance also reduces the buffer zone required between business that sell or serve alcohol and churches, schools, libraries and playgrounds, setting the distance at 150 feet; previously that buffer prevents issuance of liquor licenses within 175 feet of churches and 300 feet away from schools, libraries and playgrounds.

The proposed changes do not address the moratorium on new bars in Downtown Lafayette.

The workshops begin Tuesday at the Lafayette Public Library Downtown (10 a.m.) and will also be held Thursday, April 13 (6 p.m.) and Monday, April 17 (3 p.m.) at the Rosa Parks Transportation Center.

For a summary of proposed changes to the LCG liquor ordinance, click here.