Liquor license fees could jump dramatically in Atlanta

ATLANTA — Local restaurant owners were upset over a possible new ordinance that could drastically change prices at your favorite places to eat and drink.

City Council was set to vote on increasing liquor fees, but after hundreds of restaurant owners showed up at City Hall, the ordinance was put on hold.

The ordinance would increase liquor license fees from $5,000 to as much as $15,000.

Niko Karatassos’ company owns nine Atlanta restaurants and said the increase would cost him $100,000. He said smaller bars and restaurants would have to close or pass the expense on to customers.

“With that kind of an increase, you’re not prepared for it, so with an increase of costs comes an increase in prices,” he said.

Karatassos, along with dozens of other bar and restaurant owners, swarmed City Hall wanting to know why there was such steep increase proposed and why it was kept a secret.

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“I was mortified. I heard about this from my car wash attendant. That’s inexcusable,” said Karen Bremer, the CEO of Georgia Restaurant Association.

Members of Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration said they first considered the ordinance change in September, but with mounting pushback, they walked back the dramatic increase.

“This is not intended to triple the fee, which is described here, which meant it would go from $5,000 for all three to $5,000 individually,” a councilmember said.

The City Council decided to hold off on the proposal, meaning no increase right now. They may not take it up before the end of the year, which would mean the ordinance would be scrapped until a later date.

Cox Media Group