This story was reported and written by Radio IQ.
Members of the General Assembly are considering legislation that could change how the restaurant business works in Virginia.
Virginia does not have bars. It has restaurants, and those restaurants are required to have half of their profits come from food rather than liquor. The rules were originally put in place back in the 1960s to prevent Virginia from becoming like New Orleans or Las Vegas. Donnie Glass is a restaurant owner who is among supporters of an effort to change that ratio from 50% to 30%.
"What not that long ago used to be a $12 burger and a $3 beer has turned into a $15 burger and a $20 old fashioned," Glass says. "And we've been put in this position to where if we sell two cocktails and one sandwich — we are at risk of not being considered a restaurant anymore."
Matt Benka at the Restaurant Association says senators should think about their constituents.
"I want you to think about your top 10 mixed beverage license holders in your district. What's going to happen as soon as this bill passes is that there's going to be a bar put in within a quarter mile of every one of those, because that's what this business is going to do," Benka says. "You're going to create a new business at the expense of the existing restaurants, and you're giving them a competitive advantage."
The bill allowing the change sailed out of a Senate committee with overwhelming support. If it gets out of the General Assembly and the governor signs it, the new requirements would have a two-year sunset and then lawmakers would have to revisit this debate.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
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