Proposed Changes To Alcoholic Beverage License Ordinance (con información en español)

La información en español se puede encontrar en la parte inferior de la página.

Click here to view the current version of the new ordinance

Updated August 6th, 2024

File attachments are included at the bottom of this page. 

The City of Dalton has been studying changes to the City's ordinance controlling alcoholic beverage licenses. The changes would, among other things, bring the City into compliance with State of Georgia laws concerning closing times for businesses serving alcohol - the City is currently out of compliance. Other proposed changes concern improving security of businesses serving alcohol, and better enforcement of ID checks to prevent alcohol sales to minors. 

The Mayor and Council held a first reading of a newly revised alcoholic beverage ordinance on Monday, August 5th, 2024 (to watch video of the discussion, click here). Revising the City's alcoholic beverage ordinance was first discussed at the Council's meeting March 4th, due to the discovery that parts of Dalton's alcoholic beverage ordinance were in conflict with state law, such as allowing establishments serving alcohol to serve past 2:00 AM. The ordinance that was read on August 5th featured some changes from the version discussed in the March 4th meeting (see earlier articles below). Those revisions included: 

• In 6-1, added the definition of “bar” from state code.  The existing ordinance has a section that says state law definitions apply, so this could become confusing if the state law definition of “bar” changes.  However, there is a preference to include this, so it has been added.
• Added a definition of scanner.
• Section 6-19 and 6-20 – the hours for sale are what state law allows. This is for serving to stop at 2:00 AM. This change is not optional - Georgia state law only allows cities the size of Dalton to have alcohol served until 2:00 AM. The Council discussed this stop time and as part of the discussion, it was mentioned that the stop time could be moved to 1:30 AM with consumption to stop at 2:00 AM. 
• Section 6-36 – Adds a phase in period for security cameras, and makes this applicable to bars only as well as retail sales by the package, and adds a requirement to keep the video for 60 days.
• 6-76(c) – created a new subsection with insurance requirements.
• 6-76(d) – phased in requirement for use of scanners at pouring outlets other than restaurants and retention of that information.
• 6-106 – shortened time to provide updates to clerk if there are changes in ownership.
• 6-113 – new section requiring alcohol handler’s training for owners and anyone who handles alcohol for consumption on the premises.

• 6-208 (g) – added a requirement that any other changes in the business that would make the alcohol license application must be reported within 15 days on an amended application

The August 5th version of the ordinance can be reviewed in full at the bottom of this page. 

Original post - March 5th, 2024

The City of Dalton is studying proposed changes to Chapter 6 of the City's Code of Ordinances which concerns alcoholic beverage licenses in the City. These changes would, among other things, bring the City into compliance with State of Georgia laws concerning closing times for businesses which serve alcoholic beverages. Other proposed changes include updating definitions in the ordinance to bring the ordinance into conformity with State laws. Prohibitions on drive-through windows for sellers of packaged distilled spirits were deleted and new requirements for security cameras for licensees were added. 

The proposed changes were presented to the Mayor and Council during a public work session on March 4th before the council's regularly scheduled meeting. During the work session, the Mayor and Council had a number of questions about the ordinance, some of which require research by City staff and the City Attorney. Work will continue on the ordinance and another review of the changes could take place later in March. A first reading of the ordinance could possibly come during the month of April. Before the changes could be put to a vote by the council, the ordinance would need to have a first and second meeting in public Mayor and Council meetings. 

A summary of the proposed changes to the ordinance is included below, along with a PDF copy of the proposed ordinance and a "redline" version of the proposed ordinance showing where changes have been made to the existing ordinance. 

If you have any questions about the proposed new ordinance, you can contact City Clerk Bernadette Chattam via email by clicking here. 

Georgia Code 3-3-7 concerns alcoholic beverage law in the State. The section below concerns communities of Dalton's size and Sunday sales of alcohol (with bolded passages used in the proposed new local ordinance): 

1. In each county having a population of not less than 100,000 nor more than 150,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such census in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is lawful and in all municipalities in such counties in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is lawful, the governing authority of the county or municipality, as appropriate, may authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in bona fide full-service restaurants at any time from 11:55 P.M. on Saturdays until 2:00 A.M. on Sundays; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to any geographic area of any municipal corporation which is located outside of the limits of any county in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is not lawful.
2. As used in this subsection, the term “bona fide full-service restaurant” means an established place of business:
   1. Which is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, distilled spirits, malt beverages, or wines for consumption on the premises;
   2. Where meals with substantial entrees selected by the patron from a full menu are served;
   3. Which has adequate facilities and sufficient employees for cooking or preparing and serving such meals for consumption at tables in dining rooms on the premises; and
   4. Which derives at least 50 percent of its gross income from the sale of such meals prepared, served, and consumed on the premises.
3. The governing authority of such a county or municipality, by ordinance, may authorize any other establishment otherwise licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, distilled spirits, malt beverages, or wines for consumption on the premises to engage in such sales at any time from 11:55 P.M. on Saturdays until 2:00 A.M. on Sundays; provided, however, that the proviso in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also be applicable to sales in establishments pursuant to this paragraph.
4. The governing authority of such a county or municipality may provide for special licenses for and charge a license fee to establishments which engage in sales of such beverages at any time from 11:55 P.M. on Saturdays until 2:00 A.M. on Sundays. The license fee shall be set by the governing body.

The section below contains the State of Georgia's definition of "eating establishment": 

(2) As used in this subsection, the term “bona fide full-service restaurant” means an established place of business:

(A) Which is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, distilled spirits, malt beverages, or wines for consumption on the premises;

(B) Where meals with substantial entrees selected by the patron from a full menu are served;

(C) Which has adequate facilities and sufficient employees for cooking or preparing and serving such meals for consumption at tables in dining rooms on the premises; and

(D) Which derives at least 50 percent of its gross income from the sale of such meals prepared, served, and consumed on the premises.

En español:

Actualizado el 6 de agosto de 2024:

El Alcalde y el Concejo realizaron una primera lectura de una ordenanza de bebidas alcohólicas recientemente revisada el lunes 5 de agosto de 2024. La revisión de la ordenanza de bebidas alcohólicas de la Ciudad se discutió por primera vez en la reunión del Concejo el 4 de marzo, debido al descubrimiento de que partes de la ordenanza de bebidas alcohólicas de Dalton estaban en conflicto con la ley estatal, como permitir que los establecimientos que sirven alcohol lo hagan después de las 2:00 AM. La ordenanza leída el 5 de agosto presentó algunos cambios con respecto a la versión discutida en la reunión del 4 de marzo (ver artículos anteriores a continuación). Estas revisiones incluyeron:

En 6-1, se agregó la definición de "bar" del código estatal. La ordenanza existente tiene una sección que dice que se aplican las definiciones de la ley estatal, por lo que esto podría volverse confuso si la definición de "bar" de la ley estatal cambia. Sin embargo, existe una preferencia por incluir esto, por lo que se ha agregado. Se agregó una definición de escáner. Sección 6-19 y 6-20: los horarios de venta son los que permite la ley estatal. Esto es para que el servicio se detenga a las 2:00 AM. Este cambio no es opcional: la ley estatal de Georgia solo permite que las ciudades del tamaño de Dalton sirvan alcohol hasta las 2:00 AM. El Concejo discutió este horario de cierre y, como parte de la discusión, se mencionó que el horario de cierre podría moverse a la 1:30 AM con el consumo detenido a las 2:00 AM. Sección 6-36: agrega un período de transición para cámaras de seguridad, y lo hace aplicable solo a bares y ventas minoristas por paquete, y agrega un requisito para mantener el video durante 60 días. 6-76(c): se creó una nueva subsección con requisitos de seguro. 6-76(d): requisito gradual para el uso de escáneres en puntos de venta de bebidas, excluyendo restaurantes, y la retención de esa información. 6-106: se redujo el tiempo para proporcionar actualizaciones al secretario si hay cambios en la propiedad. 6-113: nueva sección que requiere capacitación para manipuladores de alcohol para propietarios y cualquier persona que maneje alcohol para consumo en las instalaciones. 6-208 (g): se agregó un requisito de que cualquier otro cambio en el negocio que afecte la solicitud de licencia de alcohol debe ser informado dentro de los 15 días en una solicitud enmendada.

La versión de la ordenanza del 5 de agosto se puede revisar en su totalidad al final de esta página.

Publicación original: 5 de marzo de 2024