Addison introduces rule to allow bars to operate until 4 a.m.

Published Oct 5, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Oct 5, 2012)

In light of the Metro Council taking up Wednesday a proposal that would roll back a restriction on the hours alcohol can be sold on Sundays, Councilman Ulysses "Bones" Addison is adding an amendment to allow bars to operate until 4 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Addison was unavailable this morning to comment on the "new late-night permit," as it's called on the agenda. At the last council meeting in September, Councilwoman Alison Gary proposed repealing an ordinance restricting alcohol sales before 11 a.m. on Sundays, allowing retailers and bars to operate just like any other day of the week—without having to get permitted for showing more than half of gross sales are in food. Gary was unavailable to comment on Addison's proposal. Councilwoman Tara Wicker, who opposes Gary's amendment, says she has always known Addison to oppose leniency with regards to alcohol rules in the past and hopes his introduction is a strategy—a double-down, per se—to derail Gary's amendment. "Bones' history has always been against more and higher concentrations of alcohol," Wicker says. "It's totally out of character." Both Addison and Gary are serving the Metro Council for three more months. Addison, a three-term council member, is termed out; Gary is not seeking re-election. —Adam Pearson

Today's poll question: Do you think Baton Rouge bars should be allowed to remain open until 4 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays?