Council May Change Inaugural Week Alcohol Law

Restrictions may be added to D.C.'s plan to allow bars, restaurants and nightclubs to extend their hours during next month's inauguration.
 
Establishments that want to sell alcohol for extended hours also may have to pay a fee for the privilege. The city may make those businesses register with the police so officers will have a clear idea of who is legally open and who is not.
 
D.C. Council Member Tommy Wells will ask next week for changes to clarify how liquor will be sold during the inaugural week.
 
“What I'm doing is more a responsiveness to try to be sure we have the right law for the right time,” Wells said.
 
He said he may ask that bars, restaurants and nightclubs stop selling alcohol at 4 a.m. instead of 5 a.m.

Several council members said they're willing to curb some alcohol provisions, but they don't want to be seen as "giving in" to congressional pressure.
 
Some congressional leaders and neighborhood groups have complained, but Mayor Adrian Fenty said he'd sign the legislation and promised the city would be safe.
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