Frequently asked questions about liquor licenses

	Frequently asked questions about liquor licenses
	Neighborhood and Community Services Department

For more information, call the Regulated Industries Division, (816) 784-9000.

Q: Which ordinance regulates alcohol in Kansas City, Mo.?

A: Chapter 10 is the controlling ordinance. It is accessible online at Kansas City ordinances. Kansas City's ordinances are based on Missouri law as detailed in Chapter 311 of the Missouri statutes. Kansas City's ordinances can be more restrictive than state statutes to better suit the needs of Kansas City residents.

Q: How many types of alcohol licenses are there?

A: Licenses to sell alcohol fall into these major categories:

By-the-drink: By-the-drink licenses are issued to retail establishments that serve alcohol by-the-drink or in original containers less than 15 ounces (i.e., a bottle of beer). Taverns, restaurants and bowling alleys are typical licensees.

Package: Package licensees sell alcohol in the original package. Grocery stores and convenience stores are typical holders. Alcohol cannot be consumed on the premises where package liquor is sold.

Wholesaler: Wholesalers sell to retail by-the-drink and package licensees. Retailers may not purchase from any source except a licensed wholesaler. Wholesalers cannot distribute across state lines.

Manufacturer: Manufacturers make alcoholic beverages from original ingredients. In Kansas City, these are limited to brewers of beer but could include wineries or distilleries.

Q: How are retail alcohol licenses classified?

A: There are several major classifications of liquor licenses. Each classification is granted certain operating privileges but must maintain certain standards to remain within their classification. Here are the major classifications:

Tavern – Primarily sells liquor by-the-drink on the assigned premises of the tavern. A tavern license does not permit operation on Sunday.

Place of entertainment – These establishments resemble taverns, except they are larger. City ordinance requires that a place of entertainment have an occupancy of at least 300 customers, annual gross sales of $250,000 and have been in operation for at least a year. Places of entertainment may apply for and be granted a Sunday license.

Place of amusement – Like a place of entertainment, a place of amusement resembles a tavern, except it is larger. Places of entertainment require that the establishment have games of skill, such as golf, bowling, etc., and annual gross sales of $200,000. Places of entertainment may apply for and be granted a Sunday license.

Restaurant/bar – These establishments primarily sell meals and liquor by-the-drink, and must demonstrate more than 50 percent of their gross revenue comes from the sale of food, or have at least $200,000/year in the sales of prepared meals or food made and consumed on the premises. Restaurant/bars can also sell liquor in its original package (i.e., a six pack of beer or a fifth of spirit alcohol). By-the-drink alcohol only can be consumed on the assigned premises.

Package store – Package liquor is alcohol sold in the original bottle, can or other form of container. Businesses that sell package liquor include large retail grocery stores, smaller convenience stores and stores that primarily sell package liquor. Certain types of businesses cannot sell package liquor. For example, a gas station cannot sell package liquor if its primary business is selling gasoline and servicing vehicles. However, a convenience store that primarily sells food but also sells gasoline can sell package liquor if they meet the requirements of the City code. Package liquor cannot be consumed on the premises where purchased.

Caterer license – Organizations wishing to have an event but not wanting to go through the time and expense of pursuing a liquor license can contact a catering organization. Caterers may be licensed by the City as caterers and all restaurant/bars are licensed to cater. Each catering event must be pre-approved by the Regulated Industries Division.

Q: If I want to have alcohol for sale at an event but I'm not a licensed establishment such as a tavern or restaurant/bar, what are my options?

A: There are two options:

Obtain the services of a caterer – Contact your favorite restaurant/bar (many of which cater food and alcohol) or one of the licensed caterers in Kansas City. Their catering license allows them to sell alcohol to the guests at your event. They can serve beer, wine or spirits depending on the license they already have.

Obtain a non-profit special event license – If your organization is a church, school or civic, service, fraternal, veteran, political or charitable club or organization, you can obtain a license to sell beer and/or light wine for up to seven days.

Remember that any servers, cashiers and others involved in the sale of alcohol must have an employee liquor permit. If you hire a caterer, the caterer's employees will already have their permits. If you receive a non-profit special event license, your servers may need to visit the Regulated Industries Division office and apply for a permit or obtain a temporary permit that is good for one day.

For more information about employee permits, read the next question and answer.

Q: If I work in a business that serves alcohol, do I need a permit?

A: Yes. Any person who works in an establishment as a bar manager, bartender, waiter, cashier, sales clerk, stock person, doorman or any position responsible for checking IDs, must have a permit. These are issued by the Regulated Industries Division. Any person 18 years or older with no felony criminal record can obtain one. Visit the Regulated Industries Division office to complete an application, be photographed and receive a temporary permit. A criminal background check will be conducted and your permit will be mailed to you.

While minors (those under 21 years of age) can serve or handle alcohol as a waiter, cashier or grocery sacker at a store, they may not work in a tavern or package liquor store that primarily sells packaged liquor. A 16- or 17-year-old may work in a sales-by-the-drink establishment only in areas of the establishment where they have absolutely no contact with alcohol, and only with written permission of a parent or legal guardian.

Q: What if I don't want a retail liquor establishment in my neighborhood?

A: City ordinances regulating the sale of alcohol include provisions so that neighbors around a proposed retail liquor establishment can be included in the Regulated Industries Division's decision to grant a license. There are several reasons why a proposed retail liquor establishment might not be granted a license. Here's a short list of the most critical reasons:

Within 300 feet of a church or school – Essentially, no retail liquor store (tavern, restaurant/bar, package liquor store, etc.) can be within 300 feet of the property line of a church or school. That is an automatic disqualification.

More than 50 percent of neighbors must agree – For purposes of granting a liquor license, the "neighbors" are considered anyone who owns property within 250 feet of the front door of the proposed retail liquor establishment. An applicant for a liquor license must get more than 50 percent agreement from the neighbors, otherwise the license cannot be granted.

The broader neighborhood also has a voice – A majority of property owners within a 350-foot radius of a proposed liquor establishment can sign a petition and ask for a hearing before the manager of the Regulated Industries Division and "protest" the granting of a license to a business. After a hearing has been held, then the manager can withhold a license on the basis that the proposed retail liquor establishment could harm the neighborhood.

Q: How do I get a liquor license?

A: The Regulated Industries Division provides that information on our Web site under "application forms." Also, you will want to download the appropriate checklist. These contain complete lists of all documents and tasks required by an applicant for each type of license. The fee schedule is also accessible at "application fees." Application fees are non-refundable in the event an application is denied or if the applicant decides not to continue pursuit of a license.

Q: Who's getting a liquor license now?

A: At any given time there are 30-40 establishments that have applied for a liquor license and are in the application process, which takes a minimum of about 60 days to complete, depending on the type of license for which the business has applied. Those businesses are listed on the "pending liquor licenses" page, along with a brief statement about their status.

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