Council clarifies public‑drinking rule to include wine and authorizes narrow permit for alcohol on city property

Vienna — Council members unanimously amended city code to add wine to the list of beverages prohibited in public places and approved a separate ordinance creating a narrow, permit‑based mechanism to allow alcohol sales on city‑owned or city‑managed property.

The public‑drinking change amends municipal code sections to expressly include wine where the prior language referenced beer and other alcoholic beverages but did not name wine. "It conspicuously misses wine," the city attorney said when explaining the clarification; the council adopted the language on second reading.

Separately, the council approved an ordinance authorizing sale, service, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages on city property only when expressly authorized by a written permit issued by the mayor or designee. The measure requires vendors to be lawful business entities with appropriate West Virginia ABC licensing and liability insurance and relies on an existing city policy governing permit conditions.

City legal counsel and the mayor emphasized the ordinance is not a blanket repeal of prohibitions but a narrow, controlled framework for special events and city‑sponsored or city‑sanctioned festivals. "This is not just a blanket repeal — this is a very narrow set of circumstances that requires a permit," the city attorney said. He added the policy requires compliance with state licensing categories and restrictions, including different license classes for on‑premises and off‑premises sales.

What happens next: Staff will incorporate the amendments into codified city code and apply the permit framework on a case‑by‑case basis for future city events such as the Freedom Festival; event organizers must secure required insurance and state licenses before any sale or service is authorized.