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NONPROFITS AND SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR PERMITS

JUDY STEELEDEPUTY DIRECTOR, EXCISE AND LICENSESCITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER

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Special Events in Denver

• The City and County of Denver has over 600 special events annually.

• We have received 396 special event liquor applications– January 1, 2015 through October 1, 2015– Applicants are nonprofits

• We have received 106 temporary modifications year to date– January 1, 2015 through September 17, 2015– Temporary modifications have multiple dates

included in the application– Applicants are current liquor licensees

Agenda

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To be covered:• General Information for Special Event

Liquor Permits in Denver• Requirements and Limitations• Application Requirements• Process and Notification• Delegated Authority• Obligations of Licensee• Enforcement• Next Steps

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Special Event Liquor Permits

• Special event liquor permits the sale by the drink only of Malt, Vinous and Spirituous liquor, or fermented malt beverages (3.2 Beer) , on premises that do not hold a liquor license or is to be sold by a qualifying organization, club or arts liquor licensed premises.

• Qualifying organizations include:– Nonprofit organizations– Social, fraternal, patriotic, political or athletic in nature (not

organized for a monetary gain)– Political candidate who has filed necessary reports and

statements with the Colorado Secretary of State or the Denver Clerk and Recorder

• A Special Event Liquor Permit must be applied for 30 days in advance of the event, no exceptions.

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Requirements and Limitations

• A special event liquor permit is required when there is a direct or indirect sale of alcohol.

• Sandwiches or food snacks must be available at all times when alcohol beverages are being sold.

• A special event permit may not be issued to the same applicant for more that fifteen (15) days in any one calendar year.

Application Requirements

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• Special Event Liquor Application• Proof of Nonprofit/Tax Exempt Status• Right of Possession Document• Diagram of Premises that Depicts the Bar

and Alcohol Service Areas• A Certificate of Good Standing from the

Colorado Secretary of State’s Office within the past year, a nonprofit charter or copies of reports and statements filed with the Colorado Secretary of State if a political candidate

• Sales Tax License

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Process and Notification

• Application Intake• Posting

– Posting Inspection

• Public Hearing Determination– Hearing Preparation– Hearing– License Conditions– Recommended Decision– Director’s Final Decision

• License Issuance• State Liquor Enforcement Notification

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Delegated Authority

• The Department of Excise and Licenses is the final approver for all Special Event Liquor Permits, we no longer send to the State for their approval.

• The Department of Excise and Licenses sends State Liquor Enforcement a list of all approved Special Event Liquor Permits to be posted on the Liquor Enforcement’s Web site.

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Obligations of Licensee

• As a holder of the permit, the special event licensee must purchase liquor to be served and/or sold at the event only from a licensed wholesaler of a licensed retail liquor store.

• A special event permit is authorized only for the benefit of the nonprofit organization or political candidate who holds the permit. – Proceeds from the event must benefit the nonprofit

organization or the political candidate.• Holders of a special event permit may also employ event

managers to handle the event for a fee that reasonably compensates their work.– The “fee” of an event manager may not be the revenues

from the event.• The State Liquor Enforcement Division may required

examination of the books and records of a special event permittee to ensure compliance with permit obligations.

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Enforcement

• Denver Police Detectives Assigned to the Department of Excise and Licenses

• State Liquor Enforcement Agents

• Inspecting Agencies for Denver

• Complaints Received by the Department