The Anchorage Assembly has reversed course and will no longer require that restaurants and bars check every customer’s ID before selling them alcohol. The change, approved Tuesday night, comes roughly six months after the Assembly unanimously adopted the rules, and about three months after they took effect.
Supporters of the mandatory ID checks had said the goal was to prevent minors from buying alcohol, as well as those who’ve been issued a restrictive “red-stripe” driver’s license due to a court order, usually related to alcohol offenses.
East Anchorage Assembly member Yarrow Silvers, who wasn’t on the body when the rule change passed, proposed the repeal. She said the mandatory ID check doesn’t get rid of certain loopholes, and there are laws in place to make sure restaurants don’t sell alcohol to those who can’t legally buy it…