A town hall meeting is planned for Thursday night to discuss a proposal to require liquor store operators to examine drivers' licenses or other identification cards for all customers purchasing alcoholic beverages, regardless of how old they appear to be.
The public meeting is being held by the Anchorage Assembly's public safety committee, chaired by Assemblyman Mike Gutierrez. It is set to start at 6 p.m. in the Wilda Marston Theatre on the first floor of Loussac Library, 3600 Denali St.
The broad requirement for a check of ID for all customers, not just those who appear young or under 30, was imposed in November on a new Brown Jug Liquor Store in the Tikahtnu Commons shopping center in Muldoon. The restriction was supported by the Northeast Community Council. It is intended to ensure that people who are under court-ordered restrictions that ban them from purchasing alcohol -- those convicted of driving under the influence, in particular -- would not be able to buy liquor just because they appear to be old enough to do so.
A state law passed in 2007 requires licenses and ID cards to be marked if a person is restricted from consuming alcoholic beverages.
After passing the requirement for the new Muldoon Brown Jug, Assembly members decided to consider making it a city-wide law for all package liquor stores. That's the proposal up for consideration now. The measure is also scheduled for a public hearing before the Assembly on Jan. 19 but is unlikely to see action that night.
Gutierrez and other members have said they want to have broad public involvement before making the decision, and Gutierrez said that's one reason for the Town Hall.
"I got a lot of feedback and a lot of interest from a couple of community councils that I've spoken with about the issue, so ... instead of having it at noon at City Hall when no one can come, let's have an evening meeting," he said.
Contact reporter Don Hunter at dhunter@adn.com or 257-4349.
By DON HUNTER
dhunter@adn.com