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Riverton council narrows Sunday liquor ban, approves earlier sales starting 6 a.m.
Summary
After extended public comment and a letter from a local restaurateur, Riverton City Council amended and adopted Ordinance 25-001 to allow alcohol sales beginning at 6 a.m. on Sundays (previously restricted), voting 5–2 on the amendment and then approving the ordinance as amended.
Riverton City Council voted on March 4 to amend and adopt Ordinance 25-001, changing the city's hours for alcoholic beverage sales so that licensees may begin sales at 6 a.m. every day, including Sundays. The council approved the amendment to the ordinance 5-2 and then passed the ordinance as amended.
The vote followed public comment from business owners, residents and a written letter from Amanda Henry, owner of Brown Sugar Coffee Roastery, urging the council to align Riverton hours with state practice and allow earlier Sunday service for brunch businesses. Council members debated public safety, enforcement and local values before voting.
Council members who supported the amendment said earlier hours would help local businesses and that enforcement of existing laws against serving visibly intoxicated patrons should be the priority. Opponents said earlier hours risked worsening the community's alcohol-related problems and argued the city should protect public safety rather than expand alcohol availability.
Amanda Henry's letter, read into the record by Administrative Services Director Mia Harris, argued the state no longer sets a uniform 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. standard and urged Riverton to allow sales beginning at 6 a.m. so restaurants can serve popular brunch beverages. Several restaurateurs and bar owners also spoke in favor, saying they already train staff and would not over-serve customers.
Council discussion stressed enforcement and training: supporters noted TIPs-style server training and local establishment policies, while opponents pressed for stricter enforcement of existing prohibitions on serving visibly intoxicated patrons and for exploring taxes or other measures to offset public costs linked to alcoholism. Mayor Tim Hancock and council members agreed to continue emphasizing enforcement.
The amendment vote (to change the Sunday start time from the previously amended 10 a.m. to 6 a.m.) was taken by roll call: Eric Carr, Rebecca Pearson Lewis, Mike Bailey, Carla Borders and Mayor Tim Hancock voted yes; Kyle Larson and Karen Johnson voted no. After the amendment passed, the council adopted Ordinance 25-001 as amended.
The ordinance revises Riverton Municipal Code, Title 5 (Business Licenses and Regulations), chapter 5.04 (Alcoholic Beverages): hours of sale will be uniform across days (6 a.m. to 2 a.m.) with drive-through sales limited under the ordinance language as drafted. The city also discussed server training and an existing proposal (Ordinance 25-002) to standardize mandatory server certification.
The measure takes effect per the ordinance's effective-date provisions. Council members said they expect continued attention to enforcement and training; several suggested monitoring local arrest and intoxication statistics and revisiting rules if data show problems.
Votes at a glance
- Amendment (change Sunday start from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m.): mover Councilwoman Rebecca Pearson Lewis; second Councilman Mike Bailey. Roll call: Carr (aye), Pearson Lewis (aye), Bailey (aye), Borders (aye), Larson (nay), Johnson (nay), Hancock (aye). Outcome: amendment approved (5'yes, 2'no). - Final adoption of Ordinance 25-001 as amended: mover Councilman Mike Bailey; second (recorded). Outcome: ordinance adopted.
