Councilmember Tim Burgess
Statement by Councilmember Tim Burgess on passage of Council’s resolution on extended alcohol service hours
Seattle – The Seattle City Council unanimously passed Resolution 31318 this afternoon calling for a collaborative process to explore extending alcohol service hours. Councilmember Tim Burgess, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety and Education Committee, issued the following statement after the vote:
“The Council’s passage of this resolution is the first step in our review of whether Seattle should seek modification of Liquor Control Board rules to allow for some form of extended alcohol service hours. We are not making a decision today to change service hours; we are asking state regulators to enter into a process of evaluation.
“By our action today, we pledge to work cooperatively with the State and with surrounding jurisdictions. This joint effort is very important. The evidence from other cities clearly shows that if extended service hours are going to be implemented, then how that is done is what’s most important. The necessary safeguards, protocols and resources must be in place. An evaluation program must be established with specific and measurable outcomes identified in advance. The impact on surrounding neighborhoods and adjacent jurisdictions must be anticipated. Measurable standards of performance for service establishments and their neighborhoods must be developed and enforced.
“If this process indicates that extended alcohol service hours can be safely implemented, then we may ask for local option authority to change the current 2 a.m. closing rule.”
