A committee of state delegates on Thursday gave a thumbs-up to changes in liquor-licensing requirements, bringing Silver Spring’s future music hall one step closer to tapping a keg.
The county-affairs committee, part of MoCo’s delegation to Annapolis, unanimously approved changes that would grant a license to spill to performance venues with at least 1,500 seats .
The licensing law previously required performance venues to have a minimum capacity of 2,000 people, which would have disqualified the planned Fillmore concert hall. The Colesville Road venue will host 2,000 patrons at the most.
An earlier proposal would have lowered the head count to 1,000 patrons. But Bethesda’s Del William Bronrott (D-16) stalled a vote earlier this week, saying liquor sales inside The Fillmore could increase public drunkenness in Silver Spring.
“The concern I have is with the possible unintended consequences of allowing people to consume alcohol from the time they enter the venue until the time they leave,” Bronrott told The Gazette. “There is a possibility for accidents, and with the county working towards pedestrian safety and safe driving, this is something we do not want to see happen.”
According to Patrick Lacefield, public affairs director for MoCo exec Ike Leggett, it was Bronrott who recommended the 1,500-patron compromise. Bronrott could not be reached on Thursday for comment.
On Friday, all members of the county delegation vote on the matter. If approved, the recommended changes will move to the full House of Delegates.
Image courtesy of the Flickr pool “Alcohol as Still Life”.
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“The concern I have is with the possible unintended consequences of allowing people to consume alcohol from the time they enter the venue until the time they leave”… Unlike the Quarry House, where we have one drink, then play chess till we sober up. WTF? Have you ever tried to get drunk in a 2000 person music venue? You have to forget about the top dollar tickets you paid for, and spend the whole night in line! I didn’t have that kind of money at 25.