Evening star., 1933-04-15
Annual Licenses to Be Issued
Instead of Present Tenn
porary Grants.
BARS, WITH STOOLS, HELD
LEGAL BY D. C. OFFICERS
Distributors Hereafter May Be
Limited to Maximum Number
Per Block.

The Beverage Permits Board proceeded
today with plans for issuance of annual
permits for the sale of legal beer in the
District after the Commissioners ruled
late yesterday that the beverage may
be sold over counters or bars" pro-
vided they are rsed for service of food
and are equipped with chairs or stools
for patrons.
The question, previously undecided
definitely, had led to some confusion as
to enforcement of the beer regulations,
and as to problems concerning the
issuance of annual licenses which will
replace the present temporary permits.
Vernon E. West. chairman of the
Beverage Board explained today that
while the Commissioners had not under
taken to set up a legal definition of what
may be construed to be table" in the
meaning of the beer act, they would
permit sale of the beverage over counters
under the stated conditions. In cases
where such chairs at food counters are
all occupied by patrons others standing
close to the bar also may be served the
beverage, Mr. West said. He pointed
out that neither the regulations nor the
beer act prohibit one from drinking the
legal beverage while standing. They
require only that the beverage be served
at tables.
May Limit Blocks.
Operators of several places licensed
to sell beer for consumption on the
premises previously had been warned
by police that they were permitted to
sell beer only at tables. The decision
of the Commissioners was designed to
clarity this question 1t was indicated
that the ruling would stand permanent
ly unless some unforeseen problem
arises.
Mr. West insisted it was not the in
tention of the Beer Board or the Com
missioners to permit a return of "old-
time saloon conditions" in their de-
cision to permit sale of beer over the
counters and modified bars. He ex-
planned that the Commissioners had
not drafted new regulation to cover
the sale of beer at counters and bars,
but that such would be tolerated"
provided the practice was not abused.
resulting in a return of pre-prohibition
bar conditions. If the privilege is
abused, Mr.. West declared, the Com
missioners would issue drastic new
regulation which would affectually out
law old-time bars
A new development came today also
when Mr.. West announced that while
the beverage board did not plan to set
a maximum limit for the number of
permits to be issued, it likely would de-
eide in some cases the maximum num-
Der of licenses to be issued for any one
block
The beer act does not directly en-
power the Commissioners to set max
imum number for permits to be issued,
but does direct the city heads to con-
slider the proposed location of the busi-
ness. 1t directs them to consider
whether the place is an appro-
pirate one, taking into consideration
its surroundings and the number of
similar permits already issued in the
neighborhood where the applicants
business is to be conducted"
Mr.. West said they might set limit
as to the number of places which
could sell beer in any one block.
Await Court Ruling.
The Beverage Board chairman also
stated the Commissioners would not
consider pleas at this time that resi-
dental neighborhoods be opened up"
for the sale of bottled beer by off
sale" permittees. Since this question is
involved in cases at court the District
will adhere to the present restrictions,
pending court decision, he said.
The board today was completing
preparations for the printing of annual
permit blanks to be issued to those
establishments now holding temporary
permits who pass the more deliberate
examinations which will be invoked.
To date the board has issued 1,276
beer permits. The number yesterday
totaled g. OF the total 636 were
of-sale permits, 586 on-sale, SO whole
salers' permits and one brewers permit.