U.S. LIQUOR LICENSE LAWS & FACTS

When you wind down at the end of the day or meet up for a social night with friends for a drink, have you thought about how your local liquor license laws affect your access to alcohol? Maybe you ordered a beverage at a bar or restaurant, or maybe you picked up a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer before watching a Sunday football game at home.

But, how did you really get the drink in your hand? There are U.S. regulations that provide or limit public or business access to alcohol. Furthermore, alcohol sales and serving in restaurants, bars, liquor stores, grocery stores, and even patios and events are subject to local or state laws, or consumers or sellers risk losing permission to interact with it, which could result in legal penalties, and even decreased revenues that keep businesses thriving. Many restaurants aim to have alcohol sales account for 30% of their revenue, so not adhering to liquor license and Bring-Your-Own-Beverage (BYOB) laws, could drive customers away and negatively impact profitability.

Many of these liquor license and BYOB laws are in place to ensure public safety and health too. In a study reported on by The Daily Beast with data from the market research company Experian Marketing Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 cities were identified as having the most alcohol consumption by month in 2012. Take a look at the impact of liquor sales on U.S. businesses, how businesses and consumers get access to alcohol through liquor licenses and BYOB laws, and liquor law facts in these top 25 drinking cities across the country. Are you a business that needs a liquor license or renewal? Learn about the Chicago liquor license application process and how Hays Firm can help.