LOCAL ORDINANCES

Special Event Licenses: Low-alcohol beer

Why require special event licenses and restrictions?

Without placing restrictions on the sale of alcohol at special events, underage individuals are often able to easily obtain alcohol at these events. Individuals over the age of 21 may purchase several servings of alcohol and provide some to underage persons. Alcohol servers at special events are often not trained in how to avoid selling alcohol to underage persons.

SUMMARY: SPECIAL EVENT LICENSE ORDINANCE - Low-alcohol beer
The proposed ordinance is aimed primarily at restricting underage access to alcohol at events where 3.2% beer is served. It restricts the licenses to events sponsored by nonprofit, religious or charitable organizations. These organizations may obtain only a limited number of licenses within a given year. Each license allows the organization to serve alcohol for a maximum of three days for each event.

The ordinance also requires that all alcohol served at the event must be bought and consumed within a specifically designated area. This designated area must be well-lit to provide for adequate supervision. Warning signs that discourage underage drinking must be posted within the designated area. Food and non-alcoholic beverages must also be provided. In addition, all persons serving alcohol at the event must complete a server training class before the event takes place. The licensee must also have created a written policy saying how it will handle intoxicated drinkers.

This ordinance is based in part on Minnesota Statute §340A.403 and Bloomington Ordinance §13.57.01.

Proposed Ordinance
SPECIAL EVENT LICENSES: Low-alcohol beer

Section 1. Requirements.
On-sale special event licenses may be granted for special events held by a religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization. No organization shall be granted more than four (4) special event licenses in any calendar year. Each license may authorize the on-sale of non-intoxicating liquor for no more than three (3) consecutive days. The application shall include the following information:

1. The name and address of the sponsoring religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization;
2. The dates and times of the special event;
3. The location of the special event;
4. The full name, date of birth, and street residence address of an officer or responsible member of the sponsoring religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization;
5. The full name, date of birth, and street residence address of the person(s) who will be in control of the alcoholic beverages at the special event and who will be present during the event to monitor the sales;
6. A physical description of the designated area in which the sale and consumption of the alcoholic beverage will be contained;
7. The name and date of the city-approved server training class all persons selling and managing the sale of alcoholic beverages will attend;
8. Any additional information reasonably required by the issuing authority.

Section 2. Restrictions.
The following restrictions apply to the temporary license:

1. The licensee, person(s) who will be in control of the non-intoxicating liquor, and all persons who will be selling, serving or managing the sale of the non-intoxicating liquor at the event shall complete a city-approved server training class or liquor license training seminar within two (2) years prior to the issuance of the temporary liquor license.
2. The licensee shall provide adequate security, to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the issuing authority, to assure that the purchase and consumption of alcohol is contained within the specially designated area and limited to patrons of legal drinking age. The licensee shall provide a written policy stating how it will handle intoxicated drinkers who provide a risk to themselves and others.
3. The designated area shall be illuminated by lighting of an intensity of at least one (1) foot-candle, so as to provide adequate light for the supervision of the designated area.
4. Non-alcoholic beverages and food shall be provided within the designated area.
5. Warning signs discouraging drinking and driving and underage drinking must be displayed within the designated area.

Section 3. Penalties.
The penalties for violation of this section shall be as follows:

1. For the first violation, a fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50).
2. For subsequent violations:

1. A fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not exceeding seven hundred dollars ($700), and
2. The licensee organization shall not be issued a special event license for a period of eighteen (18) months after the occurrence of this violation.

This ordinance shall take effect immediately.