Retailers Queue For Permits

Official: Grocery, Convenience Stores To Be First To Sell Alcohol

— The first alcohol permits could be issued as early as mid-January now that Benton County residents have overwhelmingly voted the county wet, according to an Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division official.

Michael Langley, division director, said his office has been receiving “tons of calls” from businesses looking to cash in on the newly wet county.

Grocery and convenience stores will be the first to sell alcohol, he said. They can apply for on-premises permits to sell beer and wine, but not liquor.

Langley said his office already has sent out about 75 applications for the permits following requests by Benton County businesses. There is no limit to the number of convenience or grocery stores that can sell alcohol.

Businesses that complete an application can start going before the division board the third week of January. Once permitted, they can start selling beer and wine immediately, Langley said.

Liquor stores face a different timeline. Langley said the division will begin sending out applications and packets Dec. 1. Hearings will begin this summer with the first permits issued in June or July.

The county will be allowed up to 55 liquor stores. The number allowed is based on the county’s population. Once the 55 permits have been issued, no more hearings will be scheduled regardless of how many applicants remain. A drawing will be held sometime between April and June to determine the order applicants will appear before the board, Langley said.

Private clubs in Benton County also have begun applying for an on-premises beer and wine permits. If approved, clubs can purchase beer and wine from wholesalers rather than buying it retail. Liquor would still have to be purchased retail. The hearings for those permits will begin in January.

The latest numbers from the Election Commission showed voters approved a wet county 65 percent to 34 percent against. The totals were 50,456 in favor of a wet county to 26,523 against.

“I was not surprised it passed,” Langley said. “I was surprised it got the percentage it did.”

Marshall Ney, spokesman for the group that secured the issue a spot on the ballot, said the group is pleased with the results.

“It’s consistent with what we expected, but obviously you never know for sure until you see the outcome,” Ney said. “We’re excited and relieved that the numbers came in as we expected them to.”

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