Liquor law changes eyed in Batavia
Batavia liquor law says you can't buy a beer before 9 a.m.
But for several decades, people attending the Batavia Vikings Ring Lodge's summertime fried-herring breakfasts have been slaking their thirst from the salty food with adult beverages when the event opens at 7 a.m.
And the last few years, businesses around town have held events where they serve alcohol while people shop.
That's not allowed under Batavia law either.
Also illegal? The wine tastings that took place at the farmers market.
Tuesday, aldermen agreed to rewrite the liquor law, in part to reflect reality.
"There are a lot of creative ideas out there that local businesses and nonprofit organizations, such as Water Street Studios, have been doing or thinking of doing that weren't allowed by liquor code," said Kevin Drendel, an attorney for the city. He and Police Chief Gary Schira collaborated on the proposed changes.
They consulted with the Batavia Chamber of Commerce and Batavia MainStreet.
Some of the changes proposed:
• Creating a license for businesses that want to allow customers to bring in alcohol to drink while they receive services (think having a beer while getting a haircut, or wine with a pedicure).
• Creating licenses for businesses that want to have the occasional special event where they serve alcohol.
• Allowing sampling.
"The idea of carry-in alcohol has apparently become somewhat of a fad throughout the Chicagoland area," Drendel said.
The nonprofit event license, which is what the host of the herring breakfast gets, will be tweaked to allow the 7 a.m. start time.
"All these years they have been doing the herring breakfast, and it hasn't been kosher," Drendel said.
However, the bartenders and servers at such events - or at restaurants, bars and anywhere else liquor is served - will no longer be allowed to imbibe alcohol while serving it.
"We have had problems with a bartender so intoxicated patrons called the police," Schira said.
The city council will vote on the changes April 20.