Council advances alcohol-amendment to second reading after debate over distilled spirits in salons

Chamblee City Council discussed an amendment to the municipal alcohol ordinance that would allow certain salon and grooming businesses to offer complimentary pours of beer and wine (and potentially include distilled spirits). Staff returned the item for discussion after outstanding clarifications were requested on hours of operation and on whether distilled spirits should be included in the definition.

Staff said the ordinance aligns hours to a 9 a.m.–8 p.m. window and noted the question of whether distilled spirits should be added remains open. “There was some concern about the hour of operations and then a question about including distilled spirits into the definition,” the staff member said when reintroducing the item. Council members raised concerns about enforcement and the potential for misuse if spirits were allowed in a salon or club-like environment.

Several council members advocated a cautious approach. One councilor said: “I want to see how beer and wine play out before I am willing to go for harder alcohol.” Another said that beer and wine could be used as a test case and that the city should expand only if it proves manageable. Others expressed no objection to the ordinance as drafted or to the proposed hours and supported moving the item to second reading.

By general consent the council agreed to place the ordinance on the agenda for a second reading on Tuesday for further consideration and public input. A local business owner, Devon Lee of Hammer Nails Grooming Shop, later told the council his franchise license limits complimentary pours to one per visit and that he supports the ordinance as drafted.

Next steps: the ordinance will return for second reading at the upcoming meeting where council may adopt, amend or reject it.