By Moses Leos III
For the first time in city history, Kyle residents can order an alcoholic beverage well after the midnight hour.
An ordinance allowing alcohol sales until 2 a.m. on any day passed by a 5-1 vote on second reading by the Kyle City Council on Nov. 18. Councilwoman Becky Selbera voted against the ordinance, while councilwoman Tammy Swaton abstained from voting, citing a conflict of interest.
Under the ordinance, only those who possess a mixed beverage and mixed beverage late hours permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) can sell alcohol past midnight.
Only one downtown business has been granted a late hours permit thus far.
According to a statement from spokesperson Jerry Hendrix, the ordinance gives existing restaurants and bars “the ability to match the operating hours of similar establishments in other area cities.”
Current laws force Kyle businesses to stop serving alcohol at midnight. Cities such as Austin and San Marcos have ordinances that allow bars and restaurants to sell alcohol until 2 a.m.
Frank Lai, owner of Koy in Kyle, said he will not extend his bar hours to 2 a.m.
“It’s not worth it,” he said. “There wouldn’t be enough business.”
Lai also cited concerns about losing his liquor license if a patron got in an accident.
Kyle’s vote to extend drinking hours was intriguing for Julie Renfro, owner of Tavern on Main in Buda.
“I’m interested how it affects Center Street [in Kyle],” Renfro said. “I’m curious to see liquor sales and how it affects businesses.”
While a bar owner herself, Renfro expressed no interest in petitioning to extend drinking hours to 2 a.m. in Buda. While she could see the benefit, she wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for Buda.
However, she said concerns about an increase in Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and crime is something that can be managed.
Also keeping an eye on Kyle’s measure is Buda Mayor Todd Ruge. He said the new ordinance could be a benefit to the city as it’s “recycling dollars” back into the economy.
But would he and Buda’s city council consider extending hours to 2 a.m.?
Ruge said he would leave it to the voters, and not city council, to decide that option. But he realizes the potential debates that could arise with the topic.
“It would be political football more than anything,” Ruge said.
Russell Cronshey, who responded to a post on the Hays Free Press Facebook page on the subject, welcomed Kyle’s decision.
He wrote that closing bars earlier didn’t work. He believed patrons, including those who were inebriated, would go into Austin or San Marcos to continue drinking.
“I for one don’t think alcohol should have a time limit or sales,” Cronshey said. “Such a stupid law that is a hold over from the Baptist Bible Belt.”
Ashley Urbanowicz wrote that the ordinance isn’t “putting more drunks on the road.” She wrote those who are inebriated are already heading into Austin or San Marcos, which have 2 a.m. ordinances in place.
“It will keep more money in Kyle too,” Urbanowicz wrote. “It’s not the best thing, but definitely isn’t the worst thing either.”
Kay Cox Burkhart disagreed, writing the city “cares more about money than lives.”
“[S]o sad to be sold out by the city council,” Burkhart wrote.
Kay Bailey of Buda wrote that Kyle got the decision right. However, she said liability lies in bartenders and servers.
“The bartenders and servers will need a refresher about knowing when not to serve someone already showing signs of drunkenness,” Bailey wrote. “In my opinion, this is where some problems can arise in the beginning. Liability often falls to the bar owners and servers.”
