Midlothian repeals ban on single-serve alcohol sales

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Updated: January 23, 2012 2:49AM

Midlothian officials have repealed a new ordinance that banned the sale of single-serve liquor at local groceries, gas stations and convenience stores.

The ban was approved last month. But officials moved to reverse it after a Midlothian Chamber of Commerce survey found that banning the sale of individual containers of beer, wine and malt liquor would hurt local businesses.

“We tried to kill a moth with a sledge hammer instead of a fly swatter,” Mayor Terry Stephens said. “We discovered that banning single-serve liquor sales would undermine the business community in ways we had not anticipated.”

Trustee Vince Schavone said he is uncomfortable with gas stations continuing to sell single-serve liquor.

“Maybe it’s because of my police background, but it bothers me that people are stopping in their cars at gas stations to buy single-serve alcohol and driving,” he said.

Trustee Allen Moskal said that instead of a single-serve ban, the village should step up enforcement of vagrancy, panhandling and littering.

“We have an active community policing program,” he said. “And there is one particular location that is the main problem — 147th and Kedzie. Unfortunately, the ordinance affected all businesses — not just our target area. We’re trying not to unfairly penalize all our businesses.”

Moskal, however, cautioned that if the village is unsuccessful in containing broken glass, empty liquor bottles, and public drinking, the single-serve prohibition could be reconsidered.

“We thank the chamber for the information it provided,” he said. “But just because we repealed the ordinance tonight, doesn’t mean we won’t reverse it again in the future if the issues are not resolved.”