Governor asked to halt issuing alcohol permits in state

A Jonesboro family-values group is asking Gov. Asa Hutchinson to suspend issuance of new alcohol permits, saying that the number of enforcement officers is too small.

In a news release Tuesday, Bob Hester, president of Arkansas Family Coalition, said the number of alcohol permits has more than doubled from about 1,800 in 2003 to about 4,300 now. But the number of enforcement agents has increased by one since 2004 -- from 17 to 18, he said.

"There's a real problem in my mind with the inability to regulate these permits and to protect the people," he said in an interview. "There's just no way on earth they can do that properly."

Arkansas Family Coalition's website describes alcohol as a "curse on society." The group was organized "to promote traditional Christian family values."

In response, Kendall Marr, a spokesman for the governor, said Hutchinson did not have any comment.

Jake Bleed, a spokesman for the Department of Finance and Administration, said he was not aware of recent complaints about a lack of enforcement. The department houses the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency.

There are three enforcement officer vacancies that Alcoholic Beverage Control is working to fill, he said.

"We're going to do the best we can with the resources that are made available for us, and we think we're doing a good job," Bleed said.

He noted that Alcoholic Beverage Control also will be in charge of enforcing portions of the voter-approved Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.

Hester said the increase in alcohol permits is because nine dry counties began allowing alcohol sales in the past decade, along with an uptick in restaurants registering as "private clubs" to sell alcohol and more permits issued for retailers like Wal-Mart, Walgreen and dollar stores.

Until the number of Alcohol Beverage Control enforcement officers increases to match the increase in permits, Hester wants the governor to tell Alcohol Beverage Control to stop issuing new permits.

"I would think if you don't have enough enforcement officers, [illegal activity] wouldn't be discovered as often," he said.

NW News on 04/07/2017

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