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Naperville Puts Off Decision On Most Of Proposed Alcohol Restrictions

(CBS) -- The Naperville City Council voted Tuesday night to eliminate deep discounts on beer sales and increase training for bar security, but several other tough provisions aimed at reducing public drunkenness were tabled until the next meeting on October 7.

Some hotel operators objected to the late-entry restrictions and some speciality bars disliked limits on beer sizes.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports the council meeting Tuesday night was an acknowledgement that Naperville has a drinking problem.

Two years ago, second-grade teacher Shaun Wild was knifed to death trying to break up a fight outside Frankie's Blue Room. Councilman Bob Fieseler says, "It was kind of a wake-up call."

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That led to an attempt at bars self-policing, but after 21-year-old drunk driver Michael Szots plowed his car into a Naperville quarry last July, drowning two passengers inside, it was clear that wasn't working.

"I've sometimes referred to what could happen as becoming the pub crawl capital of the western suburbs and we definitely don't want that," said Feiseler.

So the council proposed limits on super-sized beers and steep beer discounts.
and barring new customers from entering one hour before closing time to prevent last-minute binging.

"They wait in line and half an hour before the establishment closes, they're trying to put down a few beers and that's where maybe overconsumption takes place," said Naperville Mayor George Pradel.

Steps residents seem to support, even those who enjoy a beer.

"Nobody wants that kind of reputation or that kind of behavior in any community," said Naperville resident Jerry Hoffman.

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