RAPID CITY, S.D. – During a public meeting held at City Hall, the Rapid City Law and Finance Committee discussed possible amendments to City Ordinance 5.12.060, which dictates the hours businesses can sell alcohol.
Under the current ordinance, bars and restaurants with liquor licenses are prohibited from selling alcohol between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Liquor stores are also prohibited from selling alcohol until 10 a.m.
The proposed changes would expand current time limits for alcohol sales by three hours: bars, restaurants and liquor stores would be prohibited from selling alcohol between 2am and 10am.
The decision comes after an increase in emergency services call-outs related to morning drinking. Proposed changes were brought forward into 2020 but shelved as other matters took priority.
The committee voted 4-1 to send the amendments to the City Council without a recommendation, meaning the city council will have to debate them and solicit public comment at its next two meetings before enacting the ordinance.
The next council meeting will be held on Monday, August 19th at 6:30pm.
