Southern Missouri town allows restaurant to serve alcohol for first time since 1956

STRAFFORD, Mo. (AP) — For the first time since 1956 customers at a Strafford restaurant will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages with their meals.

Bev DeWitt says customers at Bev's Kettle have asking for beer or wine since she opened in October, so she went to the city administrator to see how she could accommodate them.

At first she was told she couldn't get a liquor license, but she wasn't swayed. She took her request to the City Council, which discovered that there was no prohibition against liquor by the drink.

DeWitt says she doesn't expect any trouble with unruly customers because she is selling beer and wine — especially since her restaurant shares a property line with the Police Department.