Summary
The committee discussed allowing restaurants to sell prepared cocktails for off-premise consumption; no ordinance change or motion was made, and the committee asked the city attorney to research potential federal and state limits, labeling requirements, and public-safety safeguards.
The Liquor Control Committee discussed whether restaurants can sell prepared cocktails "to go" and asked the city attorney to examine federal and state requirements before any local rule change. The discussion included restaurant owner Lance Thorson, city staff and commissioners; no motion to change local law was made.
"Our intent with this is just to have an add on feature for people taking food to go," Lance Thorson said, explaining customer demand for premixed margaritas as a complement to takeout food. Thorson said selling only the mix would be less convenient for customers and that the restaurant has been receiving repeated requests to package their cocktails for off-premise consumption.
Steve, city staff, said the change would likely require modifications to local ordinances to set parameters such as tamper-proof sealed containers, size limits and sale times. Commissioners suggested federal and state rules could limit the city's ability to authorize such sales. Commissioner Bob warned about federal labeling requirements and enforcement: "the fines that the feds put on not having your label approved ... are really big, like up to $26,000 per offense," and recommended consulting federal authorities and local distillers with experience.
Committee members recalled a temporary allowance during the COVID period but said the present proposal would need legal review. The chair proposed, and the group agreed informally, that the next step is for the city attorney to review potential federal and state limitations and report back to the committee; staff and the applicant agreed to meet afterward to refine guardrails. No ordinance change or formal approval was taken at the meeting.
