New Alcohol Permits Are Halted in Some Shreveport Neighborhoods

Tighter rules for alcohol permits go into effect in Shreveport in a week. Governor Jeff Landry has signed 2 bills which call for no new alcohol permits in several Shreveport neighborhoods.

What Areas Are Included in the Alcohol Permit Moratorium

A measure by State Representative Tammy Phelps extends restrictions on the issuance of certain alcoholic beverage permits within House District 3. This moratorium is now in place through the end of 2027. It does create exemptions for large national businesses.

Another measure by State Representative Steven Jackson puts a moratorium on any new alcohol permits in House District 2. This measure is also in place through the end of 2027.

Jackson tells KEEL News:

In some parts of my district, you can find a dozen businesses selling packaged alcohol within less than a mile, not including bars. At some point, it’s reasonable to ask, “how much is enough?"

These new rules go into effect on August 1, 2026.

Under the law, the permit restrictions do not apply to businesses that qualify as national chains. To use this exemption, a company must operate in 10 or more states. KEEL News checked and found that Brookshires operates in only four states. So that grocery chain would not meet the exemption.

Jackson also says "HB 1018 and 1029 provides an opportunity for local leaders to take a thoughtful look at future planning while balancing economic development with neighborhood quality of life. Not every type of development is appropriate for every neighborhood, and what may be viewed as economic development in one context can have unintended consequences for the residents who call those neighborhoods home."

What Is the Impact of the Law

The goal of these laws is to limit the proliferation of liquor stores in low income neighborhoods. Jackson and Phelps say these neighborhoods already have too many liquor stores.