By CHRIS LINDAHL
@cmlindahl
SOUTHAMPTON — The Select Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a policy that clarifies the last-call time for bars and restaurants.
Under the new rules, tables must be cleared of bottles and glasses and all customers must be off the premises within 30 minutes after the closing time stated on an establishment’s license.
Many bars and restaurants in Southampton are licensed to serve alcohol until 1 a.m.
The regulations were proposed in an effort to clarify confusion about when restaurants and bars may serve alcohol. Though a license specifies the hours during which an establishment may serve alcohol, town officials and police were unclear whether 1 a.m. is for last call, or when the establishment must close for business.
The Select Board in August tabled a more extensive set of regulations, which set last call at no later than 12:30 a.m. and required that all alcoholic beverages be consumed within the next 15 minutes.
Restaurant owners and residents complained that the proposed regulations were too heavy-handed and complicated.
The version approved Tuesday was drafted after Police Chief David G. Silvernail told the Select Board in September that he preferred something simpler.
The new rules were approved unanimously after about three minutes of discussion by the Select Board. Though the hearing was open to the public, no residents spoke about the issue.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at [email protected].
