EDITORIAL

The city has been approached by a number of civic organizations, including Historic Downtown Liberty Inc., a promoter of the central business district, interested in being able to serve or sell alcoholic beverages in public spaces around town during special events. Some businesses have also expressed interest in expanding their operations to the sidewalk.

This is an issue whose time has come despite the misgivings of some City Council members. Yes, some people could drink too much and get obnoxious and rowdy. Also bees hovering in flowerpots around the Square could sting someone who was allergic and they could die or swell up like a pumpkin. There’s danger in doing almost anything, even stepping out of the shower in your own house.

So the best a city can do is put reasonable ordinances in place and then let people live their lives. Current city codes do not allow retail establishments and restaurants to put tables out on the sidewalks in front of their businesses, where presumably beer might be served with a pizza or a glass of wine with crackers and cheese. Clubs and organizations are also not allowed under current rules to serve or sell alcohol on public streets, sidewalks, parking lots or parks with a temporary special permit.

Almost every city in the Kansas City metropolitan area hosts some type of event where alcohol is served or sold to the public on public property, often as a fundraiser for a variety of organizations, clubs and groups.

For example, blues, barbecue and beer just seem to go together, but not in Liberty. It would also be nice if HDLI was able to serve wine and beer at the Taste of Liberty, where people sit around on the street on the west side of the Square and sample food from different restaurants in the community while they listen to music and visit with friends. Being able to drink a cold beer on a hot summer night or sip a glass of wine would add to the pleasant ambiance of the evening. The sale of the drinks could also help raise funds for the perpetually cash-strapped organization, which in recent times has taken on more activities that the city once managed like the Historic Downtown Liberty Farmers Market, Christmas lights and Heritage Festival, formerly known as Spring on the Square.

For years the Plaza Art Fair and the Brookside Art Fair have had booths selling food and wine, beer and even mixed drinks. Both events attract thousands of people, including children and dogs on leashes.

Gladstone sponsors a Blues festival in a city park where alcohol is sold and consumed along with barbecue. Parkville hosts a number of events along its riverfront park where alcohol is available and that also attract thousands of people.

Depending on the insurance requirements stipulated by the city, security, state and city liquor licenses and permits needed, and the number of volunteers willing to work, many organizations may find that serving alcohol is just not the financially lucrative enterprise they thought it might be, but they should have that opportunity just like others do across the Kansas City area.

We’d also like to see the parks board explore allowing the sale of beer at adult-only tournaments at Fountain Bluff Sports Complex. We know darn well players are now sneaking in such beverages and then popping open their trunks and drinking in the parking lots out of coolers.

This issue has come up in past years but was shot down by the City Council. Other surrounding cities and counties allow the sale of alcohol at sports facilities. If the city itself does not want to be in the bartending business, perhaps a booster club could sell the beer with the proceeds used for improvements for the sports fields or other parks-related activities.

However, we’d like to see the city tackle the other two alcohol issues without dragging in the parks department at this juncture. Let the parks board make the recommendation to the council if it is so inclined.

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