Tupelo resident asks council to cap package-store permits, urges moratorium

Thomas Harrison, speaking at a public hearing during the Tupelo City Council meeting on Jan. 20, 2026, asked the council to impose a moratorium on new package-store (liquor store) permits and to adopt a citywide cap of 10 active permits. Harrison said he represented Andy Graff and LaVino Wine and Spirits and asked the council to protect existing businesses while preventing further clustering of package stores.

Harrison supplied figures during his five-minute presentation, saying Tupelo currently has approximately 22 package stores serving about 37,000 residents, "which equals 1 store for every 1,700 residents." He said comparable cities and states have far fewer stores per capita — "1 store per every 7,000 to 10,000 residents" in some comparisons — and argued that oversaturation causes "clustering and market instability" and can "negatively impact surrounding neighborhoods." He proposed that permit transfers be permitted only at the same physical location and that no new permits be issued unless active locations fall below 10.

Council members did not take immediate action on the moratorium during the meeting. No council vote or staff response addressing the merits or next steps for the proposal is recorded in the transcript. The request was presented as part of the public-hearing portion of the agenda; Harrison offered to engage additional community groups if the council sought more input.

The council's next procedural steps were not recorded in the hearing excerpt; the transcript does not show staff analysis, referral to a committee, or a formal motion relating to the moratorium during the session.