The Ledger

By Becky Holland

COCHRAN — A potential entrepreneur’s request to modify Cochran’s alcohol-by-the-drink ordinance has prompted city officials to examine the city’s current regulations.

Mayor Carla Coley said any effort to allow mobile bartending businesses and open containers during designated downtown events would require changes to the city’s alcohol ordinance, though she cannot predict whether the Cochran City Council will choose to make those revisions.

In written responses to questions from The Ledger, Coley outlined the city’s current alcohol regulations and explained what would be necessary should the City Council decide to amend the ordinance.

“I am not able to speak to whether or not Council will choose to revise our ordinances related to alcohol sales,” Coley said.

Currently, alcoholic beverages sold by the drink in Cochran must be consumed on the premises where they are purchased.

According to Coley, allowing drinks to be sold from a mobile bartending business would require the city to amend its alcohol sales ordinance. She said the city would also need to create a special events overlay for the downtown district that would permit patrons to carry open containers during designated events.

“Council would have to revise our alcohol sales ordinance to allow drinks to be sold from a mobile unit and create an overlay for the downtown district (special events overlay) that would permit patrons to have an open container during special events,” she said.

Potential ordinance changes would include amending the city’s alcohol ordinance to allow alcohol sales from a mobile unit and establishing downtown as an official event district, where patrons could legally carry open containers during designated events.

Coley also addressed questions about whether the city is considering requiring individual food trucks or vendors to obtain a separate event license.

She said Cochran does not currently have an ordinance regulating food trucks because those businesses are generally regulated by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

“We actually do not have any ordinances related to food trucks, and typically, a city would not need an ordinance that directly affects food trucks because they are already regulated by Public Health,” Coley said.

Instead, she said the only licensing concept discussed has been something similar to a Peddler’s License.

“The only license that has been discussed is something similar to a Peddler’s License,” Coley said.

She explained that many cities use peddler’s permits to authorize vendors to sell goods or services outside of a permanent storefront. Such permits also allow local governments to verify that vendors are operating legally and have any required licenses and insurance.

“Issuance of a Peddler’s License affords the city the opportunity to properly vet vendors, ensure that they are operating ethically, and that they are operating legally and have all licenses and insurance if needed,” she said.

When asked whether the city plans to establish an official downtown event district, Coley referred back to her earlier response, reiterating that creating a special events overlay would be necessary if the city chooses to allow open containers during designated downtown events.

At this time, no ordinance amendments have been approved by the Cochran City Council. Any revisions to the city’s alcohol ordinance or the creation of a downtown special events overlay, or official event district, would require future City Council action.