New Shoreham Town Council passes resolution aimed to tighten liquor laws on the island

NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. (WLNE) — The New Shoreham Town Council passed a resolution Wednesday night to review the handling of liquor licenses in town.

The resolution calls for the Town Solicitors to analyze other existing Rhode Island towns and cities liquor license laws to see if the island should adopt similar methods used in those other municipalities to their regulations.

It also calls for the creation of a working group with different stakeholders from the island to find ways to improve the enforcing and granting of liquor licenses in the town.

Another component requests that the town works with the ferry to come up with better strategies to reduce overcrowding and the amount of liquor consumed and transported by ferry passengers.

“The Town of New Shoreham has suffered through irresponsible and damaging behavior from visitors, which have negatively impacted both the quality of life of residents and the quality of the experience for our visitors,” opens the resolution.

The passage comes less than two weeks after the island experienced overcrowding and several fights following an event at Ballard’s.

Ballard’s is facing a show cause hearing to review their liquor and entertainment licenses Monday.

The council has previously raised concerns with the large crowds and excessive drinking that have arisen over the course of the summer, which led to a forum between the council and business owners in July.