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Mt. Prospects loosens liquor restrictions

The Mount Prospect village board this week amended the section of its village code dealing with liquor to allow customers at restaurants to bring in their own bottles of wine and also allow barbershops, spas and beauty shops to serve wine, champagne or beer.

The board first discussed the matter at a recent committee of the whole meeting. Since then, following a suggestion by Trustee John Matuszak, the proposed amendment was massaged further by creating an umbrella category of “cosmetic facilities” that would include services provided by a state-licensed professional, such as a barber or cosmetologist — but not massage establishments.

The amendment requires applicants that have not held a liquor license to undergo training in a classroom rather than online. It would also requires dram shop insurance.

The amendment allows two types of bring-your-own bottle service.

One allows an establishment that already has a valid liquor license to let patrons to bring in their own wine. The other allows patrons to bring in wine to an establishment that does not have a liquor license, a change, Mayor Arlene Juracek has said, that was requested by high-end restaurants with clients who wanted to bring in special wines.

Another change allows bottle service of spirits at individual tables to guests at private events in banquet halls.

And it allows the “cosmetic facility license” for barbershops, beauty shops and spas.

Discussing the latter, Trustee Paul Hoefert, although not enthusiastic about the expansion of the delivery of alcohol, said, “This is a responsible expansion and on some level, as we have already discussed, it’s already happening.”

Hoefert said there has been positive feedback from the community from those who have sampled alcohol at a cosmetic facility, adding it is “not a free-for-all,” but rather a glass of wine.

Alcohol at a cosmetic facility will be limited to a couple of servings.

“It is a very popular thing with the ladies,” Matuszak said. “It appears to be a very social event. They will come out and have a glass of wine and socialize with themselves at bridal parties.”

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