(a) After due notice and public hearings, the Commissioner shall establish a numerical limitation on the licenses for liquor retail businesses, to become effective on January 1, 1968, and to be reviewed annually after notice by public hearing. The sole basis for the numerical limitation shall be the determination that licenses in excess of the limitation would have an adverse effect on the public morals, safety or welfare.
(b) The Commissioner shall impose a five-year moratorium on the issuance of business licenses for tavern keeper within the towns of Frederiksted and Christiansted in St. Croix and the town of Savan in St. Thomas, to extend westward to Bethesda Gade and the historic town of Charlotte Amalie as established by title 1 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 81. The sole basis of the moratorium is to ensure that the number of taverns within these confined areas does not negatively compromise the public's safety or welfare.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), this moratorium shall not prevent restaurateurs from acquiring business licenses for bars housed within their restaurants.