It will remain dry overnight in Clearfield. The City Council has said nay to 24-hour beer sales here, opting to keep the current restrictions of no retail alcohol sales between 1 and 6 a.m.
City officials needed to revise their beer ordinance governing taverns to comply with state law this month. They had a chance to also modify their retail sales hours.Clearfield's beer ordinance had a loophole, technically allowing alcohol sales starting at 6 a.m. in taverns. Although taverns still comply with state law and don't sell beer from 1-10 a.m., the ambiguity in the city's ordinance needed to be addressed.
Since Layton recently began allowing 24-hour beer sales in stores, Councilman Garr L. Roundy recommended that liberty in Clearfield, too.
However, Councilman Martin Eliason expressed concern over the all-night availability of beer during the summer.
"We don't lose that much sales tax, with only four (24-hour) outlets selling beer," Eliason said in regard to losing beer sales tax revenue to other cities like Layton at night.
Curt Oda, another councilman, wondered if Clearfield would restrict new retails stores from coming into the city because of the ban on overnight beer sales.
Roundy's original proposal to allow 24-hour retail beer sales failed by one vote. After more deliberation, all five council members ended up voting in favor of maintaining overnight sale restrictions.
Police Chief Morton Sparks said he surveyed the beer ordinances of other cities in the area.
"Ours is not the only one out of compliance (with state law)," Sparks, said, explaining there's a wide variety in the hours of beer sales.
He said a few cities even prohibit stores from Sunday beer sales.