Foes Line Up Against Hot-Food-to-Go Ban

A proposed Anaheim ordinance banning the sale of hot foods at gas station mini-marts that also sell alcoholic beverages appears doomed.

Although the City Council postponed a vote Tuesday, council members indicated their opinions: Mayor Donald R. Roth, Mayor Pro Tem Irv Pickler and Councilman Ben Bay spoke against it, and council members Miriam Kaywood and E. Llewellyn Overholt Jr. spoke for it.

The council will vote June 17 after the ordinance is rewritten to address only “hot foods” and not all prepared food.

Overholt introduced the ordinance in the hope of reducing drunk driving. He reasoned that buyers of hot food would eat it immediately. And if they bought beer or wine with it, Overholt said, the buyers would drink and drive.

Colleen Ballas, an Anaheim Hills resident and mother of five, argued that if gas station marts are allowed to sell beer and wine, other fast-food places soon will ask to do the same.

“We have a voice in the environment in which we choose to raise our children,” said Ballas, also chairwoman of the Orange County Alcoholic Advisory Board.

Mini-mart representatives have argued that the proposed ordinance discriminates against their industry. They also argue that there is no data to back Overholt’s contention that hamburger sales could increase drunk driving.