A new alcohol policy has led to a decrease in police dispatches for alcohol-related incidents downtown, according to a yearly review conducted by city officials.
The Alcohol License and Density Ordinance is a policy aimed at limiting alcohol-related crime by reducing the number and type of establishments selling alcohol downtown.
The ALDO review examined crime data, the number of alcohol beverage licenses and the capacity of establishments with liquor licenses.
City Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf said the ordinance has accomplished its goal of maintaining the number of tavern licenses downtown.
Results of the study also showed a decreasing trend in how many times police were dispatched to certain areas for alcohol-related incidents, which is an effect of keeping the number of tavern licenses steady, according to the report.
Woulf said while police are still dispatched frequently to areas with many bars, like the 500 block of State Street, alcohol-related incidents have declined since the implementation of ALDO.
City officials said changes in ownership have also caused a decrease in alcohol-related incidents.
“I question whether the density is the problem or the people are the problem,” Ald. Lisa Subeck, District 1, said. “I think we all know at some level an owner who is not responsible has a significant impact.”
City officials voted on changes to ALDO in July, which allowed more entertainment businesses, such as comedy clubs and live music venues, to open downtown.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said before the changes, the ordinance hurt business by restricting certain establishments from utilizing an 18+ entertainment license, which allows patrons 18 years and older in a venue where both alcohol and entertainment are present.
“My big interest in the last time we went through the ALDO review process was to ensure unique, interesting places could apply for a liquor license downtown,” Verveer said.
