Politics & Government

No Liquor License Renewal for Any Biz in Debt to City

Also, new rules outlawing the sale of single-serve containers of alcohol go into effect on Dec. 1.

Joliet liquor license holders must be paid up on all debts owed to the city by Dec. 31 or their licenses will be suspended, Mayor Tom Giarrante has decreed.

“All water bills, taxes, alarm fees and more need to be caught up,” Giarrante, who serves as the city's liquor commissioner, said in a news release. “While the problem isn’t widespread, a small percentage of licensees need to be reminded and we will hold them to it.”

Renewal applications for 2013 have been mailed to current licensees and must be returned by noon Dec. 31, the release said.

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And starting this Saturday, all liquor businesses holding Class A, C and C-D licenses must be in compliance with a new ordinance that bans the sale of single-serve containers of alcohol.

The ban applies to any single container of beer or wine that is 12 ounces or less and any container of hard liquor that is 6.4 ounces or smaller.

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The rules are stricter of businesses located in or within 1,000 feet of a redevelopment area or TIF district. In those areas, licensees cannot sell a single container of beer that's 40 ounces or less. The rule prohibiting the hard liquor containters of 6.4 ounces or less also applies.

City police and government officials hope the ban will help cut down on the transients who panhandle in downtown Joliet, use the money they collect to buy single-serve bottles or cans of alcohol, and then leave the empties in allies and parking lots.

While the ordinance was adopted earlier this year, licensees were allowed additional time to sell their inventory.

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