RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City’s alcohol-related litter is going to get a closer look after the Rapid City Common Council approved a request to allow the City Attorney’s office to research potential ordinance amendments to address the issue.

The request came from Council President Stephen Tamang and was passed through the Legal and Finance Committee without recommendation.

During the city council meeting Monday night, the 7-3 motion to approve the request didn’t come without discussion of the pros and cons.

“I think most of us recognize we have a problem related to alcohol litter and the various aspects of that,” Council President Stephen Tamang said.

Tamang said his intention was to engage stakeholders, retailers and the alcohol industry, non-profits and others working in alcohol-related fields and then task the City Attorney’s office with reviewing options that may exist.

The request didn’t have full council support. Councilman Kevin Maher said making a legal product, or size of bottle, illegal could have legal ramifications.

“I just have a problem with asking our legal department to go out and research and give us an ordinance,” Maher said. “I would propose rather that we have a task force like we did with short term rentals and bring in some of the local retailers.”

The Rapid City Police Department deals with thousands of alcohol-related issues each year. Rapid City Assistant Police Chief Scott Sitz said, so far this year, the department responded to 3,700 intoxicated subject calls, have made 2,900 trips to detox, responded to 550 public consumption calls, and have seen an increase in driving under the influence arrests.

“From a law enforcement perspective, alcohol use, substance use and abuse is something we see every day,” Sitz said. “It’s involved in a majority of our calls to service.”

The motion to direct the city attorney’s office to research potential ordinance amendments passed 7-3.