Aldermen seek to expand time to sell alcohol

GLUCKSTADT — Serving hours for on-site alcohol consumption could be extended after city officials approved a resolution supporting the measure earlier this month.

Aldermen approved the resolution petitioning the Mississippi Department of Revenue to extend the hours in which restaurants and bars can sell alcohol for on-site consumption in the city.

The item passed in a 4-1 vote, with only Alderman Wesley Slay voting “nay.”

“Nothing good happens after midnight,” Slay said.

Local business owners A.J. Bowman of the Twisted Turnip and Allen Cox of the Timber Tavern spoke in support of the resolution at the Dec. 10 city meeting.

Bowman and Cox represented both ends of the issue. Bowman said they close their restaurant around 9 p.m. most evenings.

“We get some late-shift employees from Amazon or hunters just coming in who want a mimosa,” Bowman said.

Cox said every Friday night, around 11:45 p.m. he sees his clientele begin looking at their watches.

“They say are we going home or are we going somewhere else,” Cox said.

Cox said those who do decide to keep the party going pay their bills and head to late night spots in Jackson and on the Ross Barnet Reservoir. Cox said some nights this is as much as 30 percent of his customer base.

“It’s money, and it’s tax dollars leaving Gluckstadt,” Cox said.

Those in support suggested the extension could attract more businesses to the city.

Police Chief Barry Hale said he saw “both sides” of the equation.

“I think it could bring more people here and make more money for our businesses,” Hale said. “The downside I see is there could be more people out there drinking, but as I understand it, we are not having a big problem with that.”

The resolution asks to extend the hours restaurants, bars, hotels, and clubs can sell alcohol on-site in Gluckstadt from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and until 12. a.m. on Sundays. 

Since the city currently has no set ordinance, establishments are limited by the laws of Madison County, which starts alcohol sales at 10 a.m. and ends at midnight.

City officials did not say when they expected to hear back from the MDR.