Atlanta City Council votes against extending bar hours

By David Pendered

The Atlanta City Council has again rejected a proposal to extend the drinking hours at bars in the city.

The vote clears the way for an effort to tighten the city’s alcohol ordinances. The goal of that legislation is to make it easier for Atlanta to close businesses that habitually violate the city’s alcohol codes and escape closure through legal loopholes.

The council has considered extending bar hours periodically since 2003, when the hours were shortened following several years of violent outbursts that were linked to late-night drinking.

Meeting Tuesday, following the holiday on July 4, the council voted 9-1 to kill a measure that would have allowed alcohol to be served in bars and restaurants until 4 a.m. on Mondays through Fridays and until 2:55 a.m. on Saturdays.

Councilman Kwanza Hall, who proposed the longer hours and was the lone signature on the legislation, voted to kill it.

The only vote in favor of not rejecting the proposal was Councilman Ivory Lee Young, Jr.

Here’s the roll call on the vote:

To kill the proposal:

Michael J. Bond;

Keisha Bottoms;

Kwanza Hall;

C.T. Martin;

Felicia Moore;

Joyce Sheperd;

Howard Shook;

Carla Smith;