CLEVELAND – The Cleveland City Council this week placed a 90-day moratorium on the issuance of new alcohol licenses to give the council time to review the current ordinance.
The reason for the review was made in an appeal from Police Chief John Foster, who told the council the current ordinance was adopted in 2018 and somehow failed to include two key items.
Foster said the current ordinance does not have anything in it that states the city will issue licenses to restaurants to sell beer and wine. Also, it does not require restaurants to sell food to those wishing to consume beer and wine.
“This one hasn’t been reviewed since 2018 and I was reviewing it and found these areas of concern,” Foster said. “I’m sure once the council has a chance to look at it and re-word some of it then they’ll get it back where it needs to be.”
The council's action earlier this week only affects the issuance of new alcohol licenses in the city.
