TABC Prepared To Handle Flood Of Dallas Alcohol Applications
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is preparing to sift through a flood of applications to sell alcohol after Proposition 1 passed in Dallas Tuesday night. The proposition eliminates the city's dry zones, most of which are currently in the southern sector, and allows any business to apply to sell alcohol.
Amjad Hejaz operates Stop and Save, a family-owned store in Oak Cliff and said he's excited he'll be able to offer customers beer and wine.
"It means we get to experience something new," Hejaz said. But he admits he is concerned about whether it will also attract crime. "Crime is going to go up, maybe," he added.
The City of Irving legalized beer and wine sales in November of 2008 and police have tracked crime statistics and calls for service in areas where alcohol is sold.
Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd said there's been no increase in criminal activity there.
"From a police perspective we don't typically have problems where beer and wine is sold," Boyd said. "We have problems where beer and wine is consumed and that's generally where we get the calls for service."
Hejaz operates the Stop and Save Store on Sunnyvale and Overton Road in Dallas. He said the nearest liquor store is six miles away in South Dallas and he wants to be allowed to provide beer and wine for local residents.
According to a spokesperson for the T.A.B.C., the agency charges $590 for a license to sell beer and wine and that permit is good for two years.
Carolyn Beck, spokeswoman for T.A.B.C., said the cost of holding a permit to sell liquor by the drink in a restaurant is $6,512 plus a surcharge. That fee decreases until the third renewal.
Beck said the state won't accept applications for permits until after Tuesday's election results are canvassed and certified by the city of Dallas and the County, which is scheduled to take place on Nov. 10.
