Monday, February 10, 2025–8:40 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
Rome City Commissioners have approved two alcohol ordinance amendments, but the votes were not unanimous.
The first amendment prohibits any future variances from Rome’s 50-50 food-to-drink ratio but allows the three current establishments with variances to keep them.
Old Havana is able to count tobacco sales toward meeting the 50-50 ratio while Alibi Prohibition and Combat Market is allowed by a variance to count gun sales. The most recent variance was granted for Elevation Cigar House on North Fifth Avenue, which permits the sale of premium tobacco products to count toward the ratio.
It would also allow those businesses to be transferred to a new licensee, sold, or moved to a new location.
Commissioner Mark Cochran voted no while Commissioner Bill Collins abstained.
“The Alcohol Control Commission has done a very good job debating this and laboring it through, but if the point is to control it through the consumption of food, and there are restaurants where you can consume alcohol but not consumer food, then we’re not really controlling it,” Cochran said. “So, I find it difficult to eliminate the variance that other people are asking for when you can essentially do the exact same thing at a restaurant without buying any food.”
The second ordinance amendment allows sales from on-site food trucks to count toward the ratio as long as the sales flow through the establishment’s cash register/point of sales system and the food trucks would be supplemental to an existing brick and motor kitchen that is operational.
The vote was 5 to 3 with Commissioners Jamie Doss, Randy Quick, Wayne Robinson, and Harry Brock voting yes, along with Mayor Craig McDaniel. Commissioners Jim Bojo, Elaina Beeman and Mark Cochran voted against.
“It’s almost like an imaginary crime that’s not actually happening, but we are about to start making it happen,” Cochran said.
