Rapid City first responders have advocated for changes in the hours residents can purchase alcohol. However, an effort to make that adjustment died in city council.
The decision came at this week’s council meeting, where council members voted down a proposal to ban alcohol sales between the hours of 7 and 10 in the morning.
Councilor Josh Beiberdorf said the proposal comes from concerns downtown.
“The number one concerns of citizens in my ward was drunkenness, panhandling, homelessness in the downtown area – everyone says we’re turning into Denver fast," Beiberdorf said. "So, when I met with the PD and the fire, I asked them if they had one ask what would it be? Their one ask was this.”
It’s a position supported by the communities first responders. RCPD Chief Don Hedrick acknowledged it’s not fix to systemic issues. Rather, it’s an attempt to give the community a breath.
“A window of soberness for them to be able to reach some of the folks they’ll be able to work with and give our first responders a little bit of a break – a window when they’re not transporting highly intoxicated people," Hedrick said. "A lot of businesses are asking us to do something, to make a change, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
The proposal was met with division. While some residents were in favor, others question if it would accomplish anything at all past restricting liquor store hours. Councilor John Roberts said one key argument – no healthy people buy alcohol in the morning – falls flat.
“I was a shift worker for over 10 years and got off at 7 in the morning," Roberts said. "Of the 100 people I worked with, probably once a week 10 of them went to the liquor store at one time or another during that week, and none of them I knew were raging alcoholics. The thing is, if they’re addicted, we can’t push them into getting help. Nobody out there has gotten help unless they wanted it.”
Roberts adds proponents are looking at the issue too narrowly, as the proposal could also mean lost tax revenue from tourists.