It's been years since the idea was first proposed. Creating an Alcohol Impact Area (AIA), which would place restrictions on the kinds of products a store could sell in an effort to reduce the impacts of chronic street alcoholics, has been pursued with various degrees of enthusiasm for nearly a decade.
Last week, those in favor of taking this step got their wish. On Thursday, Aug. 31, the Washington State Liquor Control Board unanimously approved the city's formal request to establish the AIA. The approval comes after several Good Neighbor Agreements, efforts at voluntary compliance where businesses would agree to restrictions that were not mandated, were deemed unsuccessful.
The AIA goes into effect on Nov. 1.
When it does, stores will be prohibited from selling a large number of the high-alcoholic, low-cost beverages typically favored by street alcoholics. Businesses are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages until 9 a.m., and cannot sell single containers.
On Capitol Hill, the AIA's north border is East Aloha Street. The area includes all of what is commonly considered Capitol Hill and First Hill, as well as downtown, the International District, the Central District and Lower Queen Anne. Also included is Pioneer Square, which has had an AIA in place since 2003, and the University District.
Michael Wells, owner of Bailey-Coy Books and president of the Broadway Business Improvement Association, said he supports the AIA's approval even as he understands reasons why many oppose it.
"I do have mixed feelings about it," he said. "It is not a long-term solution. It's a Band-Aid to a much larger social problem. But if you have a wound, you put a Band-Aid on it. Capitol Hill has a real problem with chronic public inebriants and the problem contributes to a negative sense of safety. So I think this will help, and is a step we should take. But it does not address the larger social service problem."
Wells said that the AIA is not the best solution to the problem of street alcoholics but that a long-term solution is not evident. He's also aware of the notion held by some that the AIA discriminates against largely Asian convenience store owners for whom the sale of such products constitutes a high percentage of their business. It may be a politically ambiguous issue, but, he said, the AIA is right for Capitol Hill.
"If a small business owner is paying his rent out of selling high-octane beer, then this will be a challenge for him," he said. "But public inebriants are part of a public safety issue up here, and businesses are responsible as well for safety in the community."
One convenience store owner, who did not want to be named, said that the AIA would drastically hurt his business. Visibly upset when the subject was brought up, his sentiments were echoed by several other store owners who similarly declined to be named.
At the Benson Grocery, a short walk away on East Pike Street, owner Suk Kang is clearly upset and angry. In broken English, he said the state has no business telling him what kinds of products he can or cannot sell in his store.
"It is not fair. There are lots of homeless people, yes. But this won't make a difference," he said, adding that not all of those who buy products on the banned list are chronic alcoholics or people who cause problems. "I should be able to sell cheaper beer if people want to buy it."
Kang, who has owned his store for 24 years, said the fact that such products will be for sale somewhere in the city means problems associated with chronic public inebriation will not go away. Also, he thinks product manufacturers will simply come up with new brand names to replace the banned products as a way to get around the list. And, of course, alcohol will still be available at his store and others, even if certain popular brands are prohibited.
What Kang would support would be an AIA that applied to the entire state.
The AIA has long had support from the Seattle City Council. In a statement, councilmember Tom Rasmussen voiced his approval of the liquor board's decision.
"Parts of the city have been asking us for help with alcohol related problems for years," said Rasmussen. "I am pleased that the Liquor Control Board has recognized the serious problems in these neighborhoods caused by public inebriation."
Rasmussen sponsored the legislation which authorized the city to seek the mandatory restrictions from the state liquor board.
Tony Yoo, who has owned Harry's Grocery on East Pine Street for the last 10 years, is one convenience-store owner who is pleased the ban will take effect. His support for the AIA is not the majority view of convenience store owners, but he offers a different perspective.
"I was the first one to sign up for the voluntary ban. I definitely agree with it," he said.
He lends his support despite the fact that he sells several of the products on the state's banned products list. But sales of such products like Olde English 800 do not, he said, make up a large percentage of his business. And he has plenty of other beers for sale in the cooler.
"I want regular customers. The [street alcoholics] cause problems for me, keep customers away. They hurt my business and make people uncomfortable," he said.
Doug Schwartz is the editor of the Capitol Hill Times. He can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com or 461-1308.
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