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Council tables Rabbit Hole liquor/hemp license after police, ABC and owner raise concerns
Summary
Council tabled a request to add a package-store liquor license and a specialty consumable-hemp endorsement for the Rabbit Hole at Highway 280 to the April 6 meeting after police flagged proximity to child-serving facilities and ABC guidance remained unclear; a separate tobacco-license transfer was approved with one abstention.
Alexander City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to table a request for a package-store liquor license and a specialty retail consumable-hemp endorsement for the Rabbit Hole convenience store (2574 Highway 280 Unit A) until its April 6 meeting, after law-enforcement and licensing staff identified proximity and regulatory concerns.
The council approved a separate transfer of the store’s existing tobacco/other nicotine-products license by a 5-0 vote with one abstention (Councilman Lucas).
Why it was tabled: the police chief told council the site is within roughly 350 yards of a daycare and close to a Boys & Girls Club, and raised the potential for enforcement problems when consumers possess or open packages that could contain controlled substances. ABC staff and the applicant said state rules have recently shifted and the applicant said the store has sold hemp-related products under previous ownership for the past six years; ABC staff said the board is still clarifying how endorsements and package licenses are applied.
Applicant’s comment: owner Drew Harden said he and his wife purchased the business in January, that the shop has sold similar products for about six years, and that they aim to follow the ABC board’s rules and keep items behind the counter.
What’s next: Council voted 6-0 to table the liquor/hemp endorsement and requested additional information from legal staff and ABC guidance ahead of the April 6 meeting.
Ending: The council approved the tobacco-license transfer (item 8) and postponed final action on item 9 to allow staff time to confirm ABC requirements and proximity limits.
