Think Of the Impact a 40 Could Make

And stadium updates weren't the only item on the menu for the City Council yesterday. This issue has been a friend of Seattlest's since way back when we were both struggling to get into this business. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder where you've seen him before. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the Alcohol Impact Area!

(1) What is an alcohol impact area (AIA)? An alcohol impact area is a geographic area within a city, town, or county that is adversely affected by chronic public inebriation or illegal activity associated with alcohol sales or consumption. The area must be designated by ordinance by the government subdivision and recognized by resolution of the board before any enhanced processes described by these rules are applied.

A wee little toe in the water of an Impact Area was put into effect in Pioneer Square two years ago and since then Public Drunkeness and Being Poor Without Proper Documentation have been on the rise in areas like Downtown and the University District. The solution? Alcohol Impact Area! Now with more 30% more impact over a much larger area, the Alcohol Impact Area has returned and is seemingly everyone's best friend.

From the Seattle Times:

Meg Olsen, president of Colman Neighborhood Association of Judkins Park, said she came home last year from a vacation to find a woman living in her backyard under a hot-tub shelter, leaving a stack of beer cans and other trash.

Olsen said her neighborhood has encouraged small convenience stores to "remarket" themselves by selling other products, such as fresh flowers, espresso or bread.

"We're not trying to put them out of business," she said. "We're trying to improve their business."

Yeah, because when a convenience store goes about ordering stock they have to think long and hard about whether they'll be ordering from the malt list or the premium beer list. Is an expanded Alcohol Impact Area enough to ween merhants from the teet of 40oz profits? Will decreased access to affordable beverages start alcoholics on the path to sobriety or have them running to the burbs? Apparently, Alcohol Impact Area will be rocking the microphone indefinately, so stay tuned.