Gurnee looks at lifting restrictions on liquor sales

Gurnee is one of the last suburbs that prohibits consumers from buying alcohol in a supermarket's general checkout line, but that may change as part of a package of amendments proposed for the village's liquor law.

Village board members gathered Monday night for an informal committee session to review proposed changes to the ordinance. No action was taken.

"It's been in place for more than 30 years," Village Administrator James Hayner said of the current liquor law. "It's time for an update."

Among the proposed changes would be the ability for someone 21 or older to buy alcohol at a grocery store's general checkout area.

Village officials said Gurnee is one of the last suburbs that requires such purchases be made in a store's designated liquor area.

Village Attorney Bryan Winter said an ordinance update would allow alcohol purchases in regular supermarket lines, provided electronic driver's license scanning equipment has been installed at the register.

Alcohol still would be required to be displayed in a specific area of a store, Winter added.

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said it took some convincing, but she's willing to go along with the alcohol sales at regular supermarket checkout lines, and the driver's license scanning technology is key for her.

"Now you're going to have a pretty good record of the transaction to trace back," Kovarik said.

Trustee Greg Garner questioned the idea. He said underage drinkers may have an easier time obtaining alcohol in a regular checkout line.

"I'm wondering how this whole thing came up," Garner said. "Is our objective to sell more alcohol in the community?"

Winter said Gurnee is seeking to update an old local law, not to boost alcohol sales.

Gurnee still would specifically state alcohol can't be sold at gasoline stations or convenience stores.

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association expressed concern that Gurnee's proposed changes could prohibit a grocery store with an on-site gas station from selling alcohol, but Winter said that would not be the case.