
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992                   TAG: 9203050307
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

LIQUOR BILLS GET SENATE OK

The Virginia Senate on Wednesday approved House-passed bills reducing the amount of food a restaurant must serve to keep its mixed-drink license, and allowing state-run liquor stores to accept credit cards and debit cards.

Sen. Frank Nolen, D-Augusta, said dozens of restaurants are in danger of losing their Alcoholic Beverage Control licenses because the recession has hurt food sales.

Sen. John Chichester, R-Fredericksburg, argued that the bill would create "a saloon-type atmosphere" in many restaurants. "I'm for economic recovery, but I don't think this is the answer," he said.

The bill, which the House of Delegates already has approved, requires restaurants to derive at least 35 percent of their gross receipts from food and non-alcoholic beverages. Current law sets the standard at 45 percent.

There was no debate on the bill allowing ABC stores to accept credit cards and debit cards. The Senate amended the bill to strike a provision that would allow the stores to accept personal checks.

The Senate voted 31-8 to pass the bill.

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by CNB