Following ordinance approval by the Town Council at its meeting last week, all BYOB [bring your own beer or bring your own bottle] restaurants in the town of Johnston are now required to obtain a liquor license.
“It came to our attention through the Police Department that there are a number of BYOB restaurants in the town and we don’t have an ordinance regulating alcoholic beverages enjoyed at BYOB restaurants,” said Town Solicitor Billy Conley prior to the council’s vote. “This ordinance requires licensing and regulates these establishments as any others [serving alcohol] and prevents them from getting around licensing fees.”
Conley said the ordinance not only creates “a level playing field” for all restaurants and establishments in the town, it also gives the Police Department the ability to enforce the same regulations.
“Right now, they can open up without any authorization,” said Police Chief Richard Tamburini prior to the vote. “We need it so we know where all these establishments are located and so we’re able to enforce the regulations.”
Tamburini said there are at least four such restaurants currently in Johnston.
According to the ordinance, “It is the Council’s intent to ensure that those establishments that allow the general public to consume alcohol on their premises are properly trained to inspect photo identification to prevent under-age drinking, as well as to regulate the amount of alcohol consumption that occurs on these aforementioned premises to promote the health and safety of the Town of Johnston and to reduce the prominence of drinking and driving therein.”
The ordinance defines the BYOB license as a limited, non-retail, Rule 5 Class B-V License, as defined by the State of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
It reads, “A BYOB license maintains all the requirements set forth by the State of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation but does not confer the right to retail sales. A BYOB license will be understood as a class B-V liquor license for the purpose of regulation under Town of Johnston Code of Ordinances Section 91.”
According to the ordinance, application for a BYOB license must be made to the Johnston Town Council at the time of the initial or renewal application for said license. Determination of whether to grant a BYOB license is at the sole discretion of the Town Council.
Town Clerk Vincent Baccarri said BYOB license applicants will be charged the same fee as a standard Class B Liquor License, which is about $1,000.
“They will need to apply for the license, pay the fee and show up before the council for approval,” he said.
The ordinance was unanimously approved by the council and shall take effect upon passage.
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