Resident urges Lawrence to tax alcohol sales at watch parties; commissioners do not act on proposal

Steven Watts, a resident who spoke during public comment at the Lawrence City Commission's June 26 special meeting, said he "fully support[s] the idea" of permitting watch‑party alcohol sales and urged the city to consider ways to capture revenue from those transactions.

Watts told commissioners, "We must find a way to tax these drug sales that go on when we allow these kind of events... ethanol is a drug," and suggested creating a taxable district downtown to generate funds for housing and other local needs. The commission did not take formal action on the taxation proposal during the special meeting; the record shows the body moved directly to adopt the resolution authorizing event permitting and alcohol sales and then adjourned.