Everett adopts alcohol sales restrictions for some areas

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The Everett City Council has decided to ban certain kinds of alcohol from being sold in some areas of town.

The Daily Herald reports the council voted unanimously on Wednesday evening to pull certain beers and malt liquors from stores downtown and in several neighborhoods.

In April, the city created an "alcohol impact area" for its core commercial neighborhoods to try to reduce problems associated with drinking cheap, strong alcohol, from crime to littering.

Stores were asked to voluntarily stop selling the kinds of cheap alcohol typically consumed by public alcohol abusers. But the voluntary nature of the eight-month ban wasn't making enough of an impact, so the city council decided to make it mandatory.