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Fargo board debates proposed wine accessory license; motion to send to commission dies for lack of second
Summary
Board members split over a proposed 'wine accessory' license allowing customers to buy open bottles to take home. Concerns included lack of numeric limits, enforcement and potential market impacts; a motion to forward the draft to the City Commission received no second and died.
The Fargo Liquor Control Board debated a proposed wine accessory (WAL) license that would let customers purchase an open bottle of wine to take home. Staff described the concept as a way to let customers finish or take an opened bottle away; several board members said the draft in its current form lacks needed limits and enforcement language.
An unidentified board member who opposed the draft argued the proposal "is a little clumsy" and warned it could expand into many new outlets without numerical limits, harming legacy AB license holders who paid for those privileges. He described concerns about in-store promotions and compliance with rules: "There's no limit. Could we end up with 20 or 30 of these places in town?" he asked.
Another board member said local business owners who spoke at the meeting had not echoed the same level of concern and urged moving the proposal to the City Commission for broader policy direction. That member made a motion "to approve it with the Fargo City Commission," but the chair asked for a second and none was offered; the chair said the motion died for lack of a second.
Board members suggested several next steps: draft clearer ordinance language with the city attorney, solicit more input from the industry, and obtain guidance from the City Commission about the desired direction for beverage alcohol licensing in Fargo. Staff said they will work with the city attorney to prepare language that includes potential restrictions and enforcement mechanisms before returning with a formal recommendation.
