Denver Parks and Recreation Alcohol Policy Proposed Revisions February 28, 2018 Background The Department’s alcohol policy was initially established in September 2007 and was amended in May 2011, February 2012, and May 2012. The current policy is overly complicated and, in some cases, overly restrictive. There are inconsistencies between how certain parks and facilities are treated as compared to all other parks and facilities. The intent of these proposed revisions is to simplify the policy, provide more clarity to users, institute consistency, and accommodate upcoming changes to state liquor laws. Liquor License Basics A liquor license/permit is required whenever alcoholic beverages are sold. Based upon Colorado State law requirements, a Special Events Permit is the only type of license/permit that is available to organizations wanting to sell alcoholic beverages in association with any permit issued by Denver Parks and Recreation. This permit type can only be obtained by a nonprofit organization or a limited number of other entities that are not relevant to Denver permitting (i.e. state agencies). A Special Events Liquor Permit cannot be issued to the same applicant for more than fifteen (15) days in one calendar year. Proposed Revisions Denver Parks and Recreation’s alcohol policy falls into three distinct categories: (1) the service or sale in association with a permit issued by the Department, (2) consumption or possession in Denver Parks and Recreation buildings, and (3) consumption by individuals in parks. The following are the proposed revisions in each of these categories. Permitted Activity The proposed revisions below are intended to simplify the rules governing the sale and/or service of alcoholic beverages in association with permitted activity. They are also intended to apply consistent regulations across all parks and permit types. ALL PERMITS CURRENT RULE Permit holders must obtain a special event liquor permit/license serve or sell alcoholic beverages. Specific sites are listed that define which parks allow the sale and/or service of alcoholic beverages for each permit type. REVISED RULE Permit holders must obtain the appropriate liquor license/permit as determined by Excise and Licenses. Allow the sale and/or service of alcoholic beverages at any park under the appropriate park permit except as restricted in the policy. Add requirement that events comply with the responsible vendor program for bartenders for all permits that include the sale or service of hard liquor Add language that states that all federal, state, and local laws must be followed in all cases where permit allows the sale or service of alcoholic beverages. Add language requiring the serving of alcohol to end a minimum of one hour prior to curfew. FESTIVAL / PUBLIC EVENT CURRENT RULE Alcohol beverages to be served or sold and served at festivals/public events are limited to beer, wine, champagne, and hard liquor that are served as mixed drinks in a prepackaged or premixed form. REVISED RULE Remove the restriction that hard liquor served as mixed drinks must be prepackaged or premixed. Sloan's Lake is limited to two festivals/public events per year that serve or sell alcoholic. Sloan's Lake is limited to the sale of beer and wine only. Once a parks and recreation festival/public event permit has been issued, the department and/or the event organizer will notify the City Council member within whose district the festival is proposed to take place. Remove this restriction. Allow all alcoholic beverages to be served and/or sold (same as festivals/public events at all other parks). Replace this requirement with a statement that the event organizer will be required to notify City Council offices within whose district the festival/public event is proposed to take place. The department will also provide access for City Council members and their staff to the department’s permitting system. RACE / WALK CURRENT RULE Only 3.2 beer may be served or sold and served at races/walks and the sale or service must be within a restricted area at the termination point of the race. The number of race/walk permits allowing the serving or selling of alcoholic beverages will be limited to a maximum of 2 per park, per year. REVISED RULE Allow all alcoholic beverages to be served and/or sold (same as festivals/public events). Revise the location restriction from being at the termination point of the race to being one designated area that cannot be on the course. Remove this restriction. SPECIAL OCCASION (Private, by Invitation Only Events) CURRENT RULE Only beer, wine and champagne can be served at Special Occasions. REVISED RULE Allow all alcoholic beverages to be served and add the allowance for the sale of alcoholic beverages (same as festivals/public events). FACILITY CURRENT RULE Only beer, wine, and champagne may be served at the Washington Park Boathouse (private, by invitation only events). Alcoholic beverages can only be served, not sold, at event facilities. REVISED RULE Allow all alcoholic beverages to be served and/or sold at the Washington Park Boathouse (same as all other event facilities). Allow alcoholic beverages to be served and sold at event facilities. DEMONSTRATION / ASSEMBLY CURRENT RULE The policy does not address demonstration/assembly permits. REVISED RULE Prohibit the sale or service in association with a demonstration/assembly permit. ATHLETIC CURRENT RULE The policy does not address athletic permits REVISED RULE Prohibit the sale or service in association with league practice, games, camps, clinics permits. Allow the sale and service in a designated area outside of the field of play in association with tournament permits only. Parks and Recreation Buildings The proposed revisions below are intended to add specific buildings where alcoholic beverages can be served and/or sold. The proposed changes also clarify that all facilities occupied by third parties via agreements, not just Concessionaires, are exempt from the policy. CURRENT RULE REVISED RULE Alcoholic beverages and 3.2 beer is prohibited in all Parks Add the following to the exceptions: and Recreation buildings other than 1) buildings occupied • Buildings occupied by third parties via cooperative by Concessionaires with concession licenses that agreements (i.e. Zoo, Botanic Gardens, etc.) specifically allow the sale, service, and consumption of • Aqua Golf Clubhouse alcohol beverages and/or 3.2 beer on the licensed • Harvard Gulch Clubhouse premises, and 2) buildings specifically identified as Event • Carla Madison Rooftop Facility Permit Sites in Section 2. Buildings where alcohol • Evergreen Lake House beverages and 3.2 beer are prohibited include, but is not limited to, recreation centers, senior centers, indoor or Add “during the hours when open” to recreation and senior outdoor pools, and department offices. centers under examples where alcohol beverages are prohibited. Add the following to the prohibited list: • Within 50’ of playgrounds Add a provision that allows the sale and/or service of alcoholic beverages in recreation and senior centers with the restrictions that 1) the sale/service can only occur when the facility is closed to the general public, 2) there can be no access to a pool or weight room, and 3) all applicable laws and rules must be complied with. Consumption by Individuals in Parks The proposed revisions below are intended to make Denver Parks and Recreation’s policy consistent with state and local laws. CURRENT RULE REVISED RULE In multiple places the policy references 3.2 beer. Remove all references to 3.2 beer. 3.2 beer may be consumed in open areas of Denver parks State and/or city law, as amended, will govern what except as restricted in this policy and otherwise by law. alcoholic beverages can be consumed in open areas of Denver parks unless further restricted in this policy or other rules and regulations issued by the Department.