Special Event Licenses

Why require special event licenses and restrictions?

• Without placing restrictions on the sale of alcohol, underage individuals may be able to easily obtain alcohol at special events.
• Individuals over the age of 21 may decide to purchase several servings of alcohol and then provide some of the alcohol to underage persons.
• Alcohol servers at special events may be less likely to receive training on how to avoid selling alcohol to underage individuals and what the consequences will be if they do sell to an underage person.

SUMMARY: SPECIAL EVENT LICENSE ORDINANCE - Full liquor

The proposed ordinance is aimed at restricting underage access to alcohol at events where strong beer, wine and liquor are sold. It restricts the licenses to events sponsored by nonprofit, religious or charitable organizations that have been in existence for at least three years (as required by Minnesota state law).

The ordinance requires that all alcohol served at the event be bought and consumed within a specifically designated area which only persons of legal drinking age may enter. 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. The licensees must also have a written policy saying how they will handle intoxicated drinkers.

Proposed Ordinance

SPECIAL EVENT LICENSES: Full liquor

Section 1. Requirements.

1. On-sale special event licenses may be granted for special events held by a religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization that has been in existence for at least three (3) years for the on-sale of intoxicating liquor in connection with a social event sponsored by the licensee. No organization shall be granted more than four (4) special event licenses in any calendar year. Each license may authorize the on-sale of alcoholic beverages for no more than three (3) consecutive days.
2. 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 member of the sponsoring religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization;
5. The full name, date of birth, and street residence address of the person 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.

Section 2. Requirements.
The following restrictions apply to the special event license:

1. The licensee, persons who will be in control of the intoxicating liquor, and all persons who will be selling, serving or managing the sale of the 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 is limited to patrons of legal drinking age.
3. No person under the legal drinking age shall be permitted to enter the designated area.
4. 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.
5. Non-alcoholic beverages and food shall be provided within the designated area.
6. Warning signs discouraging underage drinking and drinking and driving 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.