Cleveland Council imposes 90 day moratorium on issuing new alcohol licenses

File photo (Dean Dyer/wrwh.com)

(Cleveland)-  The Cleveland City Council has voted to place a 90-day moratorium on the issuances of new alcohol licenses in the city 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, it failed to include two key items. Foster said the current ordinance does not state 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.

Foster said, “This one hasn’t been reviewed since 2018, and I was reviewing it and found these areas of concern. I’m sure once the council has a chance to look at it and reword some of it, then they’ll get it back where it needs to be.”

The council’s action only affects the issuance of new alcohol licenses in the city.