AB 869

This bill creates a private event venue permit issued by the Department of

Revenue and generally prohibits the rental or lease of property for private events at

which fermented malt beverages (beer) or intoxicating liquor, which includes wine

and distilled spirits, is consumed without this permit. This bill also authorizes DOR

to issue retail alcohol beverage permits for motor vehicle racetrack grounds and for

the state fair park. This bill authorizes caterers to make retail sales of alcohol

beverages on racetrack grounds. The bill further establishes hours during which

brewers may not make retail sales of alcohol beverages and makes changes relating

to the retail sales hours of wineries. This bill also creates an exception allowing

municipalities to authorize extended closing hours for alcohol beverage retailers,

wineries, and brewers during the time that the 2020 Democratic National

Convention is held in Milwaukee.

Private event venue permits

Under this bill, DOR may issue to property owners private event venue permits

that authorize the permittee to rent or lease property for use as a venue for a private

event at which beer or intoxicating liquor is consumed. A permit does not authorize

the sale of any alcohol beverages, but the host of the event may possess and consume,

and allow the possession and consumption by others, on the premises, of beer and

intoxicating liquor purchased from a retailer rather than a wholesaler. Upon the

conclusion of the event, the host may remove from the premises any remaining beer

and intoxicating liquor that is in an unopened, original container. The premises

covered by the permit may not remain open during hours in which Class “B” and

“Class B” retail licensed premises must be closed. Requirements applicable to Class

“B" and “Class B” retail licensees and licensed premises otherwise apply to private

event venue permittees and premises covered by these permits, including the

requirements that operations on the premises are supervised by a licensed bartender

and that unaccompanied underage persons not be allowed on the premises. An

applicant for a private event venue permit must provide proof of liability insurance

and a permit may not be issued for property covered by another alcohol beverages

license or permit.

With exceptions, the bill prohibits a person from renting or leasing property to

another for use as a venue for a private event at which beer or intoxicating liquor is

consumed unless the person holds a private event venue permit and consumption of

the beer or intoxicating liquor occurs on the premises covered by this permit. The

bill provides exceptions to this prohibition for certain types of property, including

property covered by an alcohol beverages license or permit; hotel rooms and vacation

rental property; property used primarily for parking; certain property used in

connection with professional football or baseball games or amateur sporting events;

and property used by a nonprofit organization.

New retail permits issued by DOR