ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON,
Wyo. – The penalty for liquor license holders in a Wyoming town who
repeatedly sell alcohol to minors could be reduced from a suspension of four
months to 10 days.
The proposed
change is part of an overhaul to municipal liquor codes in Jackson, “The
Jackson Hole News & Guide” reported Feb. 9.
The town
council voted to approve a 10-day suspension period for three failed compliance
checks in a year, but to leave other violations to the discretion of elected
officials. The change was due to concerns among town councilors that the
license suspension for failing three compliance checks in a year was too
severe, officials said.
The longer
suspension could result in a business going without revenue for 120 days and
possible job losses among employees, officials said.
Mayor Pete
Muldoon was the sole vote against the liquor code update.
The council
should give itself leeway to decide against suspensions for cases in which liquor
license holders present convincing cases why they should not be held
responsible, even after selling alcohol to underage people three times in a
year, Muldoon said.
The council
needs to approve the change two more times, allowing opportunities for amendments.
