Chapel Hill allows beer in restaurants

Requests for such beer sale permits may be filed May 27.

"I don't think it's any different from going to O'Charlie's and having a drink," said Alderman Horace Hill, who voted with Aldermen Billy Batte and Kris Holton in favor of the measure, while Aldermen Bucko Bryant, Henry Frame and Pam Elliott voted against.

That vote line-up matched the board's April 14 vote.

Town leaders have been considering beer service since late last summer when Sambo's Barbecue proprietor Tina Wesson said golfers were asking if they could drink a beer with their sandwich. Henry Horton State Park's golf course is just south of town and state law prohibits beer at the park's restaurant.

In December and January, aldermen stalled on a motion to permit beer sales by the glass. There was no second to the motion, but they voted to outlaw brown bagging. Last month, Cooper broke a tie on beer at restaurants on first reading.

Approval on the second and final vote came with an added requirement for restaurants, as suggested by Hill. At least 51 percent of their revenue must be from food and the meals must be prepared at the restaurant.

Chapel Hill has permitted carry-out beer sales for several years. A number of country markets in town sell meals and have permits to sell packaged beer. Hill's suggestion for a way to limit beer service to businesses that are primarily restaurants emerged from discussion including groceries.

Opposition to beer sales by the glass focused on schools, inebriation and potential problems.

"It's just opening a can of nails," Bryant said.

Elliott said she doesn't want beer drinking near schools.

"Yes, we're growing," she added. "It's inevitable and they'd like nice restaurants, but I don't want to be in a position of picking and choosing; You can and you can't."

Las Fiestas, a Mexican restaurant, is across North Horton Parkway from Forrest High School, but without any separation requirement in the ordinance, that and other restaurants may apply for permits from the Chapel Hill Beer Board.

The new ordinance has a variety of conditions. One requires restaurants with beer service permits to report tabulations on beer and food sales.

Because the beer board must consider applications, Town Attorney Todd Moore said he believes 60-90 days will pass before the first sale of a beer with a restaurant meal in Chapel Hill.