Shelbyville beer board defers Latin Drinks permit after questions about concession-vs-restaurant rules

Jamie Peguada, the applicant for Latin Drinks, asked the Shelbyville Beer Board on Thursday for permission to sell beer at a permanent concession on private property at the Shelbyville Flea Market. The board deferred the application after staff said the proposed operation as described in the packet does not clearly meet Tennessee licensing definitions.

Why it matters: Tennessee law sets specific categories of premises that may receive on-premises alcohol permits and ties some permissions to a minimum seating capacity and whether prepared food is served. The board said it could not determine from the current application whether Latin Drinks is a limited-service restaurant, a concession stand, or must pursue a catering/special-event permit, and it deferred the matter to allow the applicant to provide clarified plans and to coordinate with the health department and codes staff.

Board discussion and key facts: The applicant described the business as “an enclosed, small area, and we would only function on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 4,” and said staffing would be limited to her and her husband. The health-permit document in the board packet lists a…