A federal judge delivered mayoral hopeful Adrian Fenty a disappointing blow in his quest to ban the sale of malt liquor and other single-sale alcohol in certain parts of the District. Last year, Fenty, the councilman for Ward 4, pushed a measure through the city council that would have banned such sales. But a federal judge, Rosemary Collyer, intervened before the ban would have gone into effect and this past week, “struck down the law,” the Post reports, saying that there wasn’t enough public notice on the so-called Fenty Amendment.

Despite the federal intervention, Fenty vows to press on. If the ambitious politican is deflected, perhaps Fenty could use Carrie Nation-like tactics and run up and down Georgia Avenue with an ax, smashing all the mom-and-pop stores selling 40s. Of course, we kid. Fenty is smarter than that.

The ban was controversial from the start. While some neighborhood activists praised Fenty for trying to clean up the streets of demon drink and its evil associated sidewalk activities, others said Fenty was nuts. The move got Fenty the No. 1 slot on DCSOB’s Washington’s Loathsome List, just ahead of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and Wonkette editor Ana Marie Cox.

(Image of Big Bear malt liquor from the authorative website, 40ouncebeer.com.)