Name: City Commission Meeting Item 7.2 A RESOLUTION IN AUTHORIZING JOHNSON TO LIMIT HOURS OF ALCOHOL SALES
Start: 2025-02-13T18:00:00-05:00
Location: Johnson City Water & Sewer

City Commission Meeting Item 7.2 A RESOLUTION IN AUTHORIZING JOHNSON TO LIMIT HOURS OF ALCOHOL SALES

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF TENNESSEE LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING
JOHNSON CITY TO REGULATE HOURS OF SALES FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
WHEREAS, studies show alcohol, more than any illegal drug, to be more closely
associated with violent crimes, including murder, rape, assault, and child and spousal abuse; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Johnson City, Tennessee, experiences significantly increased
violent crime in areas that have concentrated alcohol sales; AND
WHEREAS, increases in crime, especially violent crime, negatively impact the time and
resources first responders may devote to other areas and members of our community; AND
WHEREAS, alcohol-related incidents substantially impact local government budgeting
due to an increase in overtime expenditures for additional law enforcement details in areas of
concentrated alcohol sales; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Johnson City recognizes that these types of crimes may negatively
impact the businesses in the surrounding districts and neighborhoods; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Johnson City Police Department allocates nearly 60% of
department resources to patrol areas of concentrated alcohol sales on a typical weekend night
despite the fact that these area represent approximately 1% of the City’s acreage and 2% of the
City’s total population; AND
WHEREAS, authorizing municipalities to establish hours of on-premises alcohol sales
within their jurisdiction allows individual communities to mitigate alcohol-related incidents,
decrease the burden on first responders, increase vibrancy of our commercial districts, and lessen
the financial impact on local governments; AND
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Johnson City Board of
Commissioners meeting in Regular Session this 13th day of February 2025, that this Board
expresses formal support for any action at the state level that authorizes Johnson City to determine
what is best for the health, safety, and welfare of its community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Johnson City Board of Commissioners
requests that the Tennessee General Assembly, Governor, and our local representatives take formal
action to delegate regulation of alcohol sales hours to our local government.