Rome Alcohol Control Commission Recommends Change to 50-50 Food-to-Drink Ratio

The Rome Alcohol Control Commission voted this week to abolish variances given to business in the city’s 50-50 food-to-drink ratio.

Currently, three businesses, Old Havana, Alibi Prohibition and Elevation Cigar House, have been given variances to offset the ratio.

The City of Rome requires establishments that serve liquor to get at least half of their revenue from the sale of food.  The city gave variances to the above establishment to count cigar and gun sales toward that number.

The ACC votes this week recommend approval of an alcohol ordinance amendment that would eliminate any future variances.

Rome City Clerk Joe Smith did say that the three existing variances would be grandfathered in and as the result be able to continue.

The ACC made a recommendation that establishments that used food trucks for the ratio would no longer be able to do so starting January 1^st.

The only business currently using food truck sales for the ratio is The Foundry at the corner of Fifth Avenue and West Third Street.