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-   -   BYOB in Washington, DC without liquor Licence (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=762193)

  • Aug 11, 2013, 03:08 PM
    KILALA
    BYOB in Washington, DC without liquor Licence
    I saw one of the Thai restaurant in Florida Ave in NW does BYOB.
    I just called and they did not have Liquor Licence.

    Can you let the customer BYOB without Liquor Licence in Washington, DC?

    Or Do you have to have licence and you can still do BYOB?

    I am thinking about opening the restaurant very soon but the restaurant does not have licence.

    Thanks.
  • Aug 11, 2013, 03:25 PM
    AK lawyer
    Quote:

    Can you let the customer BYOB without Liquor Licence in Washington, DC?

    No.

    Read this statutory section:

    "
    "RCW 66.24.481

    Public place or club — License or permit required — Penalty.

    No public place or club, or agent, servant or employee thereof, shall keep or allow to be kept, either by itself, its agent, servant or employee, or any other person, any liquor in any place maintained or conducted by such public place or club, nor shall it permit the drinking of any liquor in any such place, unless the sale of liquor in said place is authorized by virtue of a valid and subsisting license issued by the Washington state liquor control board, or the consumption of liquor in said place is authorized by a special banquet permit issued by said board. Every person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

    "Public place," for purposes of this section only, shall mean in addition to the definition set forth in RCW 66.04.010, any place to which admission is charged or in which any pecuniary gain is realized by the owner or operator of such place in selling or vending food or soft drinks."

    Oh. I now see that you are asking about the District of Columbia. My mistake. Wait right here while I look that up.
  • Aug 11, 2013, 03:40 PM
    AK lawyer
    From the DC Code:

    "... § 25-102. Sale of alcoholic beverages without a license prohibited

    ...
    (d) No person operating any premises where food, nonalcoholic beverages, or entertainment are sold or provided for compensation or where facilities are especially provided and service is rendered for the consumption of alcoholic beverages who does not possess a license under this title shall permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises.
    ..."

    So, as indicated, the answer is no. You cannot allow your customers to bring their own alcohol and consume it there.

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