Community update: Extended alcohol sales hours

Frisco City Council and Frisco voters in November approved an ordinance that allows city businesses to sell alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. daily.

As of Jan. 8, five Frisco businesses had received a permit including Dave & Buster's, Espiritu Fine Wine, Ale & Spirits, One 2 One Restaurant & Bar, The Frisco Bar and Frisco Catering Co. Inc., according to Texas Acoholic Beverage Commission records.

Before the public vote and subsequent council passage of the ordinance, businesses were only allowed to stay open until midnight every night except Saturday, when they could stay open until 1 a.m.

Frisco voters in 2008 turned down the same late-night ordinance by a 57 percent to 43 percent vote. In 2014, however, voters approved the ballot measure by about 60 percent to

40 percent.

A two-step process was needed to put the late-night ordinance in place. Voters on Nov. 4 voted to allow City Council to reconsider a late-night hours ordinance. The council unanimously followed the voter majority and approved the late-night ordinance Nov. 18.

Supporters of the late-night alcohol sales said the increased hours would allow existing businesses to compete with neighboring cities that allow alcohol sales until 2 a.m. and allow developments to stay competitive for drawing entertainment venues and destination dining.

Those opposed to the late-night ordinance said they worried about an increased number of drunken drivers on the road as well as a possible eroding of Frisco's family culture.