(Smith County Insider Press) Carthage, Tenn. – As Carthage and South Carthage voters hit the polls during this election, they will face the choice of voting for alcohol or not.
There will be two alcohol related referendums on the ballot for Carthage City voters, Retail Package Stores and Consumption on the Premises. South Carthage City voters will only have one alcohol referendum, Retail Package Stores.
In November of 2006, the Town of Gordonsville voted to allow Retail Package Stores and Consumption on the Premises within the city limits of Gordonsville.
By voting “Yes” on the Retail Package Store Referendum, it allows a retailer to obtain a license to sell liquor, wine and high gravity beer at a retail package store located in a city which has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premise.
A retail license is valid for one (1) year from the date of issue. The forms and fees for this license are available under Public Information and Forms.
Requirements for Retail Package Stores
- Applicants for a retail store must contact the city first and apply to the city for a certificate of compliance.
- The application for a retail store must be approved by the TABC commission at a regular monthly commission meeting. Applications must be complete before being placed on the agenda.
- A retail store must be located on the ground floor with one (1) main entrance opening on a public street with no other door or entrance for use by the public unless the store is located on the corner of two public streets. Under those circumstances, a retail store could have a door opening on each of the public streets.
- Retail stores must be closed for business on Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Labor Day, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July. Their hours of operation are from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday. They must be closed on Sunday.
- Employees of a retail store must be at least eighteen (18) years old and must have a retail employee permit card to work in the store.
Restrictions for Retail Package Stores
- No person, firm or corporation having at least a five percent (5%) ownership interest in the establishment can have any conviction for 10 years prior to the application of a violation of the laws governing the sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages or of any felony. No owner can have been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude within 10 years prior to the time they will receive their license, unless their rights of citizenship have been restored or judgment of infamy has been removed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- An owner of a retail liquor store cannot be a public employee, either state, city, local or county. An owner of a retail liquor store cannot hold any type of public office, either appointed or elected, unless that owner is an uncompensated appointee to a municipal board or commission where they have no duty to vote for, overlook, or superintend the sale of alcoholic beverages.
- No owner can have any interest, either direct or indirect, in any other retail liquor store, wholesale license, or liquor by the drink license.
By voting “Yes” on the Consumption on Premises Referendum, a Liquor-By-the-Drink (LBD) licenses or On-Premise Consumption licenses may be issued to restaurants, hotels, private clubs and other establishments that are eligible under Tennessee law. An LBD or On-Premise Consumption license allows an establishment to sell and dispense alcoholic beverages that contain an alcoholic content greater than five percent (5%) by weight, for example, liquor, wine and high alcohol content beer. Wine-only licenses are available for eligible restaurants.
A catering license is available for businesses or individuals that want to offer food and alcoholic beverage service at various locations. In order to be eligible for a catering license, an entity must operate a permanent catering hall on an exclusive basis, have complete and adequate commercial kitchen facilities, and be licensed as a caterer by the Tennessee Department of Health.
The TABC does not have jurisdiction over alcoholic beverages with an alcoholic content of five percent (5%) or less. To apply for a beer permit, establishments should contact the local beer board.
The different types of Liquor By the Drink Licenses are listed on the left or you can refer to the table below. Follow the links to find more information about a specific type of Liquor By the Drink license.
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