Evening star., 1935-03-24
LIQUOR CONTROL
CHANGES DEBATED
First Test of Sentiment on
Present Rulings Due
This Week.
Continued From First Page)


carried the principle the sale Of liquor
should be subordinate to the primary
business of a hotel. club or restaurant.
Those opposed to the open bars fear
such a change would break down this
principle.
One proposal contained in the Bel
ter bill would forbid retailers selling
beer and wine ION sale" to have any
game of chance or mechanical devise
of any kind intended to be used aS
trade stimulators on the premises.
George w. Offutt, chairman Of the
A. B. C. Board, approves the obJec-
tives of such a clause, but believes
it would more properly be the subject
of regulation than law.
The Dirksen bill would limit the
number of stores licensed to sell liquor
by the bottle to one to every 500 resi-
dents of the District. Officials OF the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
however. say this is the present rule,
if the population of the immediate
suburbs of the District is considered
For the District only, however, this
would mean but 333 licensed places.
whereas there now are 400 places
having Glass A permits. This would
mean that 81 would have to be can
celed. The Commissioners last week
fixed 400 as a definite limit on the
number of Glass A licenses, believing
there now are sufhcient numoer 70
serve all sections Of the District, Iney
believe the power to tlx llmltS on
licensees should be left with the Com
misSionerS.
In contrast to these moves, the Com
missioners are sponsoring the amend
rnents introduced by Chairman norton
of the House District Committee 70
strengthen present regulations.
One of these changes would give
the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
power to suspend license as well as
to revoke a permit and take license
holder to court for an lnIractlon Oh
rules. It is believed revocation Is TOO
severe in some instances and tflat Els
pension would aid in the drive LOT
obedience to rules. In such cases a
sign stating the fact of permit suspen-
sion would be posted on the place OF
business.
Another proposal of the Commis-
sioners is to forbid delivery or service
Of alcoholic beverages to persons sus-
pected of being intoxicated. The
present rule merely forbids sales to
those intoxicated. This does not pre-
vent a friend of a drunken person
from buying another drink for him.
Another provision of the Commis-
sioners' amendments makes illegal the
drinking of liquor after closing hours
at licensed places, even though the
drinks were ordered and purchased
before the curfew. Ofhcials have been
informed this has been a persistent
practice at numerous licensed estab-
lishmentS.
The penalty for intoXication now
is 500 or 30 days in jail, or both.
The Commissioners propose that for
second offenSe this be raised to 5000
or 60 days. or both, and for third
ofense to $500 or not more than six
months in Jail, or both.
Commissioner Allen, in opposing
the proposed open bar petitions, de-
clared that enforcement of District
health regulations would end alleged
insanitary practices and that Gus
toners of places licensed to serve
drinks will desert establishments
where cheap liquor Is substituted for
more expensive brands.