A subcommittee of the Alcohol License Review Committee discussed possible alterations to Madison's Alcohol License Density Ordinance Monday.
ALDO limits the number of alcohol licenses granted to bars and restaurants around downtown Madison.
Executive Director of Madison's Central Business Improvement District Mary Carbine said BID hopes there will be more flexibility for more alcohol licenses under the exceptional circumstances section of ALDO.
Dawn Crim, Director of Community Relations for UW-Madison and committee member, said each time the ALRC is presented with a new idea for a business, alcohol ends up being the main focus of the business instead of entertainment.
Committee member Pamela Bean said if a business chooses to focus on entertainment, it should be the main component, not alcohol sales.
""If we allow more than 50 percent of alcohol then the entertainment component is not the main component,"" Bean said.
Crim also said she did not understand why these businesses with an emphasis on entertainment could not find a different location where it was possible to have the space necessary.
Committee member Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said there are not a lot of locations available in Madison that would have the space for a dance floor or for the addition of entertainment elements.
Crim said she didn't understand why the committee is trying to make alterations to ALDO when the current ordinance is working.
""If our overall goal is reduction, then we need to reduce,"" Crim said.
Committee member Mark Woulf said there should be the power to define what the committee deems as entertainment and at the same time power to take away license, if necessary.
Madison Police Captain Carl Gloede said the committee should look into ways of taking the alcohol license away from businesses when they began to cause problems.
""We should hold license holders with more responsibility than they have now,"" Gloede said.
One of the other possible changes committee members suggested included mandating businesses seeking an alcohol license to have a written business plan.
The subcommittee will further discuss ALDO Dec. 9.
