Citizen Protests Delay Alcohol Permit Applications
By: Allison Morrison
Updated: August 20, 2009
Expect more delays.
That's the warning the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission sent out Thursday to Lubbock County businesses hoping for alcohol in their stores.
The TABC says citizen protests are delaying the processing of alcohol permit applications.
Those protests are based on previous elections and whether the results from those city votes override county-wide election results.
According to the TABC, a citizen can protest a permit if they have a legal basis to do so, and in this case, the agency has determined they do.
State regulators say it could take several weeks before a hearing is scheduled because of full court dockets and local businesses are frustrated at the delay.
"The city obviously voted it, even the Truth About Alcohol Sales after the election said that the City of Lubbock overwhelmed the smaller community's votes. And then a small group of people's moral agenda, is what's holding this up. Nevermind that we voted for it, nevermind that we overwhelmingly voted for it, it can't go through," Hub City Convenience Stores, Matt Kendrick, says.
