Chicago aldermen on Friday approved Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed ban on alcohol sales at packaged good stores after midnight.

       The ban goes into effect immediately.

       Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks after a City Council meeting May 26, 2021, at City Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

       Before the pandemic, liquor stores in Chicago were allowed to sell most types of alcohol until 2 a.m. or later. There have been efforts in recent years by some aldermen concerned about violence and loitering near liquor stores to set earlier hours, but those proposals have not gained much traction.

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       There are currently two liquor stores allowed to stay open until 4 a.m. that will be allowed to stay open until 2 a.m.

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       A 9 p.m. curfew on liquor sales took effect in the early days of the pandemic and was later extended to 11 p.m. Lightfoot proposed a 10 p.m. ban, but that was dead on arrival at City Council and she instead proposed a midnight compromise.

       Lightfoot has defended her push to permanently shorten sales hours by pointing to “quality of life issues” such as loitering and “illegal activity.”

       gpratt@chicagotribune.com

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