Title
Ordinance Designating an Outdoor Refreshment Area and Requesting the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to Increase the Annual Frequency of Licensee Events Within the Outdoor Refreshment Area
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Historically, Virginia Code § 4.1-206.3 included a provision regarding a “local special events” license, issued by the Board of Directors of the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority (the “Board”). This license was available to localities, business improvement districts, or nonprofit organizations and authorized the consumption of alcoholic beverages within areas designated by the Board. Established general ABC requirements apply - such as the purchaser needing to be at least 21 years of age - and other requirements related to the type of beverage container, signage, and security were also identified. The use of this license was limited to 16 events per year, with the duration of any one event not to exceed three consecutive days.
In 2021, Virginia Code § 4.1-206.3 was amended to change this license, previously known as the local special events license, to a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) license. In addition to changing the name of the license, the 2021 amendments also provided that the frequency and duration of events allowed under the license could be increased by the Board if an ordinance requesting such an increase was adopted by a locality and approved by the Board. In addition to including the desired frequency and/or duration increase, the locality’s ordinance must also include the size and scope of the area in which events would be held, a public safety plan, and any other considerations deemed necessary by the Board. The 2021 amendments did not change who was eligible to apply for this license or the general requirements associated with use of the license, which are detailed more below.
As noted above, established general ABC requirements apply. For example, the pu...
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