Spokane police hope the state Liquor Control Board will continue to ban the sale of certain high-alcohol beverages in the downtown area, though department data about the ban’s effectiveness is limited.
Since 2010, Spokane’s downtown core — the area bounded roughly by Scott Street, Spokane Falls Boulevard, Cannon Street and Fifth Avenue — has been a designated Alcohol Impact Area where sale of high-octane beer and wine products is banned. East Central received the same designation in 2012.
Downtown, sales of 46 low-cost, high-alcohol products are currently banned. That includes Keystone Ice, Steel Reserve and Mike’s Harder Lemonade.
Spokane Police Sgt. Sam Yamada said at a Public Safety Committee meeting on Monday the program has shown results in curbing calls for service directly related to alcohol consumption, though other calls for service have increased.