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By Janice Broach - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - A battle is brewing in Downtown Memphis over the sale of single cans of beer.
A proposed beer ordinance would ban the sale of less than a 6-pack of beer in stores within a specific Downtown zone.
Proponents say it will help curb aggressive panhandlers, but others believe it's unfair to Downtown businesses.
On Thanksgiving night, Beale Street panhandlers were busy hitting up one person after another for money.
A couple visiting from Florida said they were approached several times in just 10 minutes.
The ongoing problem pushed the Center City Commission to propose a ban on single sales of beer sales in an effort to cut down on panhandling.
Mohamad Aladha, an employee at Vance Grocery, said he believes the ordinance would hurt business.
"Most of what we sell is single beers. They can't buy no 12-pack.They can's buy no six-pack."
Todd Carter, a tourist from Kentucky, said he doesn't think the ban will make a difference.
"I don't think it would make a difference. We were just in Hershey, Pennsylvania, not long and ago and they only sell it by the case," he said.
Carter says he still saw panhandlers.
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