In an effort to reduce crime in Montgomery and other large Alabama cities, Governor Kay Ivey has requested the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board to explore ways to strengthen state alcohol rules and regulations.
The governor’s request follows the October 4 downtown Montgomery shooting that left multiple people injured.
In her initial letter, Ivey asked ABC Administrator Curtis Stewart to review Alabama’s alcohol laws, expectations, and requirements—particularly for licensed entities operating in highly populated and heavily traveled areas and during special events where alcohol is sold or consumed after 5 p.m. within Montgomery city limits.
“Public safety is paramount, and the state will continue being proactive to ensure safe communities for our citizens,” Governor Ivey said.
“I appreciate Administrator Stewart evaluating how we can take commonsense steps when it comes to alcohol consumption in entertainment districts across our state. I support the immediate steps he is proposing the ABC Board take, and I look forward to further exploring possible reasonable policy changes to enhance public safety.”
Stewart responded to the governor’s request on October 28 with a detailed letter outlining both immediate and long-term steps aimed at improving public safety through ABC policy adjustments.
Proposed rule and legislative changes
According to Stewart’s letter, the ABC Board will propose new administrative rule changes designed to limit behaviors that may contribute to unsafe environments in entertainment districts. These proposals include:
- Prohibiting package stores within entertainment districts from selling items such as cups or ice that could facilitate off-premises alcohol consumption.
- Limiting the amount of alcohol that special retail licensees can sell for off-premises consumption.
In addition, the Board identified several broader ideas that would require legislative approval. Among them:
- Imposing curfews for minors in entertainment districts.
- Restricting public entities from giving away alcohol at large events in entertainment districts.
- Allowing the state to suspend or terminate an entertainment district if public safety standards are not met.
Stewart said his team has consulted with both state and non-state stakeholders to ensure that proposed reforms are practical and effective across Alabama. He also expressed readiness to work with legislators interested in advancing these reforms during the 2026 legislative session.
The ABC Board’s proposed actions build on previous state initiatives to reduce violent crime, including the ALEA-led Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit and the 2025 Safe Alabama legislative package.
Both efforts have been central to the Ivey administration’s broader push to improve public safety throughout the state.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
