Gurnee issues first beer, wine tasting license

Gurnee has issued the first village license crafted for retailers that want to offer wine and beer tastings to customers.

Jewel-Osco on Hunt Club Road just south of Grand Avenue received the first opportunity to serve beer and wine samples. The new license was created earlier this year as part of a package of updates to Gurnee's liquor control ordinance.

“Wow, another historic moment before us,” Mayor Kristina Kovarik joked before village board trustees recently voted 6-0 in favor Jewel-Osco's wine and beer tasting license.

Village Administrator James Hayner said Jewel-Osco was the first to apply for the license. He said the village will charge an extra $500 to a liquor license holder that receives a separate permit for beer and wine sampling.

In August, village board trustees approved the changes in Gurnee's liquor control ordinance that included the opportunity for a retailer to get a license for wine and beer tastings.

Under the updated ordinance, alcohol purchases now may be made in regular supermarket lines, provided there is electronic driver's license scanning equipment or an age-verification system.

Village officials said Gurnee was one of the last suburbs that required such purchases to be made in a store's designated liquor area. Alcohol still must be displayed in a specific area of a store.

Trustees this year also created a liquor license classification allowing wine to be sold in gift baskets.

Gurnee's liquor ordinance was passed in 1933 to allow licenses for “keg” and bottled beer sales. Records show an election to make Gurnee dry was held a year after the local alcohol law was created, but it failed in a 104 to 52 vote.