Workshop held to discuss alcohol-related nuisance calls

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.

Some business owners and residents are upset about alcohol-related problems in Santa Barbara.

Many of them attended a workshop at city hall to talk about solutions on Wednesday night.

Alcohol and Beverage Control at the state level has only two workers responsible for Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.

Santa Barbara Police Department Spokesperson Anthony Wagner said that is not enough. He said he has studied the issue and the related costs.

"The goal is to work with community about better understanding how our municipality can take over local control of alcohol establishments. "

Wagner said last year there were 4,000 calls for police service attributed to businesses that sell liquor that is consumed elsewhere.

In the past 5 years Wagner said it cost the city $4.29 million.

Santa Barbara could adopt fees and add to the land use development code to ensure best practices.

He said Santa Barbara could adopts ideas that appear to be working in Ventura and Oakland.

"That could be getting rid of single serve beer, could be getting rid of those little airplane bottles, better lighting, security."

A liquor store owner said quoting nuisance costs seemed hypocritical since stores that sell liquor pay millions in taxes..

Nevertheless he said they are willing to work with the city.