In downtown Spokane, incidents reported to police involving alcohol have increased 64% over the last three years, despite overall crime rates in the area decreasing. With this in mind, Mayor Lisa Brown and her team proposed a city ordinance the day after Christmas to reestablish an “alcohol impact area” in the downtown police precinct. The administration recommends prohibiting off-premises retailers within that zone, including 17 convenience and grocery stores that are licensed to sell single-serve alcohol or liquor containers, from selling any alcohol after midnight.