Can People Buy Alcoholic Beverage Licenses?

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Can people buy alcoholic beverage licenses?  Without a doubt there are many fees associated with obtaining an alcoholic beverage license, but the more accurate description for obtaining a "retail alcohol beverage license" focuses primarily on the application process and includes following through on a number of qualifications.

Please continue reading for more informaiton on "buying" an alcoholic beverage license.

The Application Process is More Than Monetary Aspects

In the strictest sense of the word, people cannot buy alcoholic beverage licenses.  Certainly there are many fees associated with obtaining an alcoholic beverage license, but the more accurate description for obtaining a retail alcohol beverage license focuses more on the application process, including satisfying the following qualifications:

• The age of the applicant (licensee), partners, corporate officers, and all members of a limited liability company.  All must be 21 or older.
• The professional character of the licensee, partners, directors, members, and stockholders (this usually means no felonies or misdemeanors).
• Residency requirements of the applicant, partners, corporate agent, or the agent of a limited liability company (typically, this requirement can be met be active residency in the respective state for at least 90 days).
• Completion of a Beverage Server Training Course for the licensee, partners, corporate agent, or the agent of a limited liability company (these courses are typically taught by a Bartending College)

Other application requirements include the following:

• A State Seller's Permit (required by the respective State).
• Obtaining a Retail Liquor Dealer's Stamp (required by Federal Law).
• Obtaining an Occupancy Permit (usually obtained from the city where the drinking establishment will be located).
• Scheduling and Passing a Health Department Inspection (this must be done even if no food will be served).
• Obtaining a Food License from the Health Department (i.e., if food will be served).
• Fingerprinting the licensee, partners, corporate officers, members of a limited liability company, and stockholders owning 20% or more or stock.  If the application is for a non-profit establishment, only the agent of the organization is required to be fingerprinted.
• Registration with the State (this must be done if the application is from a corporation or a limited liability company).
• Passing a Police Investigation by the licensee, partners, corporate agent, or the agent of a limited liability company).

Alcoholic Beverage License Fees

The following Retail License Classifications and Fees must be paid:

• Class "A" Fermented Malt Beverage (Beer) License (Fee: $360.00).
• "Class A" Intoxicating Liquor License (Fee: $510.00).
• Class A Liquor and Malt License (Fee: $860.00) (This is an application for both of the above two licenses for the same premises).
• Class B Tavern License (Fee: $610.00).
• Class "B" Fermented Malt Beverage License (Fee: $110.00).
• Class "C" Wine License (Fee: $110.00).  

The following forms must be submitted:

• Alcohol Beverage License Application
• Detailed Floor Plan
• Providing detailed information regarding all arrests and convictions in the application.  

After reviewing all of the above requirements that must be accomplished in the application process, it appears that the $1,700 or $2,000 for License Fees might be the least problematic aspect when people seek to "buy  alcoholic beverage licenses."

From a different, it might be asked why a person would be interested in obtaining a retail alcohol beverage license if he or she wants to open a bar or tavern.  Consider the thousands upon thousands of bars in the United States.  Now add to this list the restaurants, night clubs, sporting events, festivals, state fairs, hotels, casinos, carnivals, etc. where alcoholic beverages are served.  Finally, add the grocery stores, liquor stores, beverage stores, the Convenient Food Marts, the 7/11 stores, and state stores where a person can purchase bottles, cans, and cases of alcoholic beverages.  

The point:  drinking alcohol is pervasively and intimately engrained in our society.  Yet in all 50 states, driving with a blood alcohol level of .08% will result in a DUI or DWI if the driver is caught by the police.  Something obviously is not right in our society in its views about alcohol. 

If drinking two or three alcoholic drinks per day are considered dangerous to one's health AND can result in a DUI or DWI, maybe it's time that number of bars is significantly reduced or eliminated.  If drinking can lead to alcoholism by so many people in our society, perhaps alcohol should not be sold in the above list of stores and business establishments. 

Can People Buy Alcoholic Beverage Licenses:  Conclusion

Can people buy alcoholic beverage licenses?  Without question, there are certainly numerous fees associated with obtaining an alcoholic beverage license.  In the strictest sense of the word, however, the more accurate description for obtaining a retail alcohol beverage license focuses mainly on the application process and meeting a number of qualifications.

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