Council targets BYOB policies
Published 9:06 pm Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Selma City Council hasn’t hammered out an ordinance to curb violence at places where customers can bring their own bottles.
The council is attempting to set policy that would curb actions of so-called BYOB clubs, where drinks aren’t sold, but people can bring their own alcohol and consume it on the premises while paying for entertainment or set-ups — mixes for the alcohol.
“I don’t think we’re ready. This needs more discussion,” council president Cecil Williamson said.
City attorney Jimmy Nunn said the proposed ordinance would cover events, clubs and parties.
“This prevents anyone from bringing alcohol on a premises of a business,” Nunn said. “It prevents the owner from allowing alcohol from being sold or being consumed.”
Nunn said he put in a section to provide an exception to social functions, such as weddings and private parties, but with some conditions.
Nunn said some of those conditions are: a free bar, no admission charge and nobody can have more than four of the no-cost permits in a year.
Councilman Tommy Atchison of Ward 1 pointed out some groups, such as the Quarterback Club or Selma-Dallas Chamber of Commerce, might suffer under the policy as it’s written.
Nunn said there is some language in the ordinance that would cover those groups, but he could make the language more specific, if needed.
“We can take out the exceptions, but I believe you are going to let in things that should not be in this ordinance,” Nunn said.
Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw of Ward 7 suggested a public safety committee meeting in the future to go over the policy’s language.
The committee meeting will be announced soon, Williamson said.