When the Huntsville City Council approved an ordinance to extend the hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages by two hours, the measure provides an option for Mixed Beverage Permit holders in the city.

The ordinance passed by a 6-3 vote at the Nov. 12 meeting its third reading.

There were pros and cons regarding the impact the ordinance would have on businesses staying open another two hours and on the patrons who frequent those businesses.

But the council simply gave the 21 businesses with the Mixed Beverage Permits the opportunity to apply for a Mixed Beverage Late Hours License, allowing them to stay open another two hours.

The ordinance does not force anyone to apply with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for the late hours permit. The decision is left up to the business owners.

They can apply and obtain the late hours permit and it’s still left up to the owners how many days of the week they want to extend their hours from midnight to 2 a.m.

In a separate vote, the council voted to adopt an amendment where the impact of extending the hours will be studied at nine and 18 months.

With the late hours permit, businesses can start staying open for the additional two hours Tuesday.

Mayor Pro Tem Lanny Ray said prior to the vote that he believed that passing the ordinance would level the playing field of the city and its merchants with that of surrounding communities and events they hold.

Ray said they were not mandating that anyone stay open or that anyone drink, but simply permitting business owners to have the same state-mandated opportunities as others. “It allows us to be on a level playing field and I think that is the positive for this.”

Ray said the ordinance involves all residents and merchants of Huntville and not just Sam Houston State University students.

Council member Charles Forbus said a constituent contacted him with a concern that the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Lions Club had not been brought into the discussion.

Ray responded that the item had been available for public discussion. It was covered in the newspaper and had been on the agenda several times.

Ray said empirical data did seem to indicate that extended hours were possiby safer.

Council member Jack Wagamon said if an individual wants to drink “it’s a personal responsibility issue. I respect the people who are against it. I respect their opinion. For myself, I believe this is a personal responsibility issue.

“Driving while intoxicated is against the law. No one is promoting that. Other communities have the law. I don’t think the skies are falling in those communities. I think we can talk about this until the cows come home, it’s going to come down to the city.

“Some of us are going to be for it, some of us are going to be against it. I am going to support the measure.”

The Stardust Room Restaurant and Bar, Humphries, The Jolly Fox Club, Lizard’s Billiards and Murski’s Ice House have applied for the late hours license, according to legal notices published in The Huntsville Item’s classified section.