That’s the current closing hour under pandemic regulations. But Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says a permanent ban on package sales after 10 p.m. would prevent people from loitering around stores that sell alcohol. It’s a safety concern, she says.
Before the pandemic, Chicago liquor stores, groceries and convenience stores were allowed to sell packaged alcohol until 2 a.m. Sunday throuh Friday and until 3 a.m. Saturday.
Chicago liquor store owners voluntarily agreed to close early during the pandemic as a way to encourage people to stay home. They’re not happy about the new proposal:
“To spring this on this particular set of business owners and not provide any justification, not engage in advance discussions, is really a slap in the face to all of these business owners,” says Rob Karr, president/CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
Some aldermen – Chicago’s title for city council members – question the idea. “We’ve seen early curfews during the year, but we have not seen a corresponding decrease and incidents of violence,” said Ald. Jason Ervin.
One retailer scoffed at Lightfoot’s suggestion a 10 p.m. closing would reduce crime. “The city has much more problems than a liquor store being opened until 1 or 2 a.m. Crime is all over and she wants to focus on this matter.”
The proposed ordinance would also allow bars and restaurans to sell cocktails to go permanently.
The 10 a.m. closing is tucked in a 94-page pandemi relief ordinance. Ald. James Cappleman, a sponsor of the proposal, tweeted Wednesday afternoon that the portion of the ordinance limiting liquor sales “was supposed to have already been removed. It will be removed before it goes for a vote,” he tweeted. “The goal is to help our businesses, not hurt them.”