EAST POINT, Ga. — A major change is in the works for people who are used to buying alcoholic drinks as late as 5:00 a.m. in bars and restaurants in the City of East Point.
Monday night, the East Point City Council reached a consensus to cut off alcohol sales much earlier, as early as midnight in some cases, because there have been so many crimes, including homicides, in the past year, especially.
The last-call-for-alcohol time is a matter of life and death for many.
There have been two homicides just outside one after-hours restaurant and bar in East Point since last year when that business opened next to the Center Park neighborhood.
A homeowner's Ring video a block away from the business shows the nightly turmoil involving customers who were still buying drinks in the nearby restaurant and bar at 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., parking on the residential streets, urinating in yards, racing their car engines and honking their horns, playing loud music, shouting at each other, carrying guns, and driving into residents’ parked cars, causing damage, and then speeding away.
The council agrees with residents that an earlier "last call" could make the city safer.
Monday night, the city council discussed a plan to require East Point businesses to stop selling alcohol as early as midnight instead of 5:00 a.m. if the business is located near residential areas. Other restaurants and bars would be able to sell alcohol, possibly until 2:00 a.m.
That’s essentially the plan that residents of Center Park asked the Council to consider.
Council member Sharon Shropshire proposed the earlier cut-off times.
"The residents are feeling a lot of pain,” Shropshire said at the meeting, “and we need to take away some of that so they can have peace in their neighborhood."
The council is likely to settle on what the new closing times will be and then vote on the new ordinance in December.