The city of Red Bank passed a new beer ordinance Tuesday night, making it legal for businesses to serve beer within ninety meters of a church or school, even businesses with a pool table in the plaza.
“This is one of the things I’ve defended,” Commissioner Pete Philips said of the city’s updated beer ordinance. “There were things there that were surely stupid, where you couldn’t have a pool table and sell beer. You can’t dance and sell beer, for some reason. I think it was. it will take us at least to the twentieth century, if not to the twenty-first century. “
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Under the new ordinance, institutions can serve beer containing up to 10. 1% alcohol by volume between 10 a. m. and 1 a. m.
It also allows the city to consider special authorizations for vendors and catering companies to serve alcohol on occasions held in city parks, which was not allowed in the past. of the new ordinance.
A provision of the old Beer Ordinance that required institutions to have separate bathrooms for men and women to unload a beer license is not included in the new law. for all other companies.
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City Manager Martin Granham said the ordinance now stipulates that the law does not apply to home brewers, which was added after commissioners first voted on the ordinance on Oct. 19.
In either reading, Ruth Jeno was the only commissioner to vote against adopting the ordinance.
“The ordinances surely needed to be updated, however, there are some things I disagree with,” said Jeno, who was in favor of reducing beer sales instead of the 1 a. m.
He also opposed the removal of the requirement that institutions serving alcohol be at least ninety meters from churches and schools.
“I’m in favor of economic development, I need smart restaurants,” Jeno said, adding that he supported the referendum he took a stand 12 years ago that allowed the sale of alcohol through glass in the city. “We just don’t respect our youth and our churches. “
Contact Emily Crisman at 423-757-6508 or ecrisman@timesfreepress. com.