Photo by poppyott

Today, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board voted to renew the longstanding East Dupont Circle liquor moratorium for another three-year period. However, the renewal of the moratorium was revised to lift a licensing cap on restaurants, multipurpose facilities, and off-premise retailers in the neighborhood, per recommendations from Dupont’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

According to the vote, the moratorium, which extends one to two blocks from the intersection of 17th and Q Streets NW, will continue to allow the issuance of two liquor licenses to taverns, prohibit the nightclubs from licensing, and keep hotels exempt from these restrictions, a press release states.

The moratorium was established more than 20 years ago to prevent bars, clubs, and other businesses of the sort from overtaking the neighborhood. In August, the Dupont ANC recommended that ABRA lift the moratorium.

Today’s decision will be effective immediate on an emergency basis, but is subject to a 30-day public comment period before it gets final approval from the D.C. Council.