Council tables special‑event alcohol license for Made in Mexico Tacos & Tequila after police raise safety concerns

The Tuscaloosa City Council on Sept. 2 voted to table a request for a special‑event alcohol license for Made in Mexico Tacos & Tequila after the police department reported safety concerns.

The applicant, Giovanni Sanchez, told the council the event — described as a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration — is planned for Sept. 13 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 1241 McFarland Boulevard East. Sanchez said the event would include multiple food tents and a single tent where one specialty alcoholic beverage (identified by the applicant as a Michelada) would be sold; he said the restaurant does not intend customers to carry alcohol between the building and the tent and that the landlord had authorized use of the parking area. He also said he could hire security officers and staff exits to prevent open containers from leaving the premises.

Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley told the council the department opposed the application because alcohol served outside without adequate barriers would create an open‑container situation that conflicts with city code and because the parking lot is heavily used, creating safety and crowd‑control risks. Blankley said there appeared to be no structures or adequate barriers proposed to limit alcohol to the licensed area.

Several council members expressed concern about the event’s timing (it coincides with a University of Alabama game day) and the lack of a well‑developed traffic and access plan. A councilmember moved to table the application to the Sept. 9 meeting so the applicant could coordinate a revised plan with the police department and the city clerk; the motion was seconded and carried. One councilmember recorded opposition to tabling during the roll call. The clerk recorded the motion to table; the applicant was encouraged to consult with TPD and to return with a written site control and security plan if he wishes to pursue the license.

Because the city must forward documentation to the ABC board for any special‑event alcohol license, staff and the applicant were advised to verify whether the ABC board could process an approval in the short time before the Sept. 13 date if a plan is resubmitted and approved on Sept. 9.