2008.08.29
Decouple bars and restaurants
In Virginia, there are no bars, only restaurants. That's because state law requires nearly all places that serve booze to also earn a substantial portion of their income from food. Two exceptions are day spas and meal assembly kitchens, but that could change. A legislative panel on Tuesday took a look at ending that exception. The law floated on the panel would require day spas and meal assembly kitchens to serve food too.
In an editorial we're writing for next week, we will urge lawmakers to go in the other direction. More establishments should be able to serve alcohol without meeting food sales quotas. In other words, Virginia should allow bars.
Among the side benefits of such a change would be easing the debate about smoking in eateries. The state could look at banning smoking in restaurants but not in adults-only bars. We think it should be in both, but the split-ban might be more palatable with lawmakers.
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Here, here!
I never could grasp the fact that you are forced to sale one thing in order to sale another. But, if I wanted to sale food I don
Comment by terry — August 29, 2008 @ 10:57 am