Kansas City Council modifies rules for liquor cards

Kansas City restaurant and bar owners have pleaded with the City Council to eliminate the requirement that every employee in liquor establishments have a liquor card.

They said it was an unnecessary bureaucratic mandate that many neighboring suburbs and other large cities don’t have and a needless barrier to employment for ex-felons trying to rebuild their lives.

But some City Council members thought the background checks that accompany the liquor card were essential to protecting public safety.

So after months of debate, a council majority voted Thursday to modify the requirement somewhat, exempting stock clerks, delivery drivers and others who don’t come in direct contact with the public from the liquor card mandate. It also exempts employees at convention hotel banquets and eliminates temporary worker permit requirements for employees at nonprofit events.

It also reduces the number of years that most ex-felons must wait before they can apply for a card.

But the liquor card requirement remains for bartenders, waiters and others who deal with customers.

This story was originally published April 30, 2015 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Kansas City Council modifies rules for liquor cards."