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Posted: Thursday, 08 October 2009 8:15AM
Plan would ban sales of liquor minis in suburb
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (CBS) ― There's a beer and liquor battle brewing in Arlington Heights. Village officials want to ban certain serving sizes. That would limit what stores can sell. At least one owner isn't happy about it.
Connie Karavidas of Teddy's Liquor Stores says if Arlington Heights says "no" to certain serving sizes, her customers might shop for them in another suburb. That could mean a drop in business she can't put a price tag on, but is worried about just the same.
She illustrated her points.
"This table presents everything the village of Arlington Heights wanted to ban," said Karavidas.
The dozens and dozens of bottles on the table showed what she might have had to pull from store shelves before a compromise.
The proposed beer and liquor ban list is smaller now. It's kind of complicated, so Karavidas ran through some of it.
"Anything that is in a 24-ounce can would be banned," she said. "A single bottle of beer 40 ounces or more, and liquor airplane sizes 50 millileters or less, those would be eliminated."
Why try to take all those sizes off the shelves?
According to village leaders, there's been a problem with alcohol-related fighting and trash. Arlington Heights Assistant Village Attorney Robin Ward said, "The sale of single serving products is often to habitual drunkards, and causes behavioral problems around the village."
Village visitor Edith Leone said she believes going after ounces can be the difference between good and bad behavior.
"I do; when alcohol is involved, definitely," she said.
But Karavidas doesn't think it'll work. She offered up a little libation lesson. She showed us a 24-ounce can that customers wouldn't be able to buy under the ban. But for a comparable price, they would be able to buy a six pack, which equals three of the banned cans.
The assistant village attorney had a take on people buying other stuff. Ward said, "I think they will buy liquor in other sizes, but every step we take will make it more difficult. Some may no longer buy it."
Karavidas said, "I can't imagine they're gonna stop."
Neither can one of her customers, who signed a petition to put the brakes on the proposed ban.
"Seems like a waste of time," he said.
The proposed ordinance is set for presentation Monday night.
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