Bethel’s alcohol issues are a substantial part of the Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board’s agenda when it meets in Nome on Tuesday. The Board intends to review a listening session that was held by state officials in Bethel last month.
Possibly the most controversial item on the Board's agenda is the license renewal for AC’s package store, which has been protested by the Bethel City Council. AC filed for its license before the city put its review process for liquor license requirements in place.
The Board will also be reviewing an application from a dry village’s Native corporation to operate a liquor store in Bethel. Hooper Bay’s Sea Lion Corporation has been the landlord for Bethel Native Corporation’s liquor store, Bethel Sprits. The Bethel Native Corporation has been selling alcohol one month a year to meet the minimal requirements to keep the license.