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ToggleBeing legally allowed to serve alcohol may be an essential part of certain businesses. But doing so requires permission from the government and specific licenses.
It is your responsibility as a business owner to ensure you follow all the rules and regulations associated with your permits. If you break the law or do not follow the rules, you could face serious repercussions, up to but not limited to losing your ability to serve alcohol. So, the Arizona Department of Liquor explains some common issues you may encounter.
Hour restrictions
Even when you have the proper licensing and are running a legal business serving or selling alcohol, you still have limits on what you can do. You cannot serve or sell alcohol in your business between the hours of 2:00 am and 6:00 am. If customers consume alcohol on your premises, you must make sure they are done by 2:30 am, and they cannot resume until 6:00 am. Finally, if you are also a restaurant, you must serve food until at least 10:00 pm.
Other rules
It is essential you obey legal drinking age restrictions. You cannot sell to or serve anyone under the age of 21. You must secure identification to prove age before serving. Note that someone can be in your bar or restaurant without showing ID, but to make a purchase, they must have one available. Selling to minors is a major violation that could shut your business down.
Another common issue is overserving. You can be liable if you allow someone to get too drunk.
Make sure that you are responsible when selling alcohol by following all of the rules set by the state.
Author Bio
Matthew L. Lopez
Matthew L. Lopez is the Managing Attorney and founder of Matthew Lopez Law, a criminal defense and DUI firm serving clients throughout Arizona. His track record of case dismissals and charge reductions has earned him honors, including a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 nomination, a “Superb” 10/10 Avvo rating, and a Rising Star designation by Super Lawyers.
Matthew is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and holds active memberships with the Arizona Association for Criminal Justice and the Arizona Association for Justice. His firm handles criminal defense, DUI, drug charges, and traffic offenses, offering free consultations and affordable payment plans to make quality defense accessible to all Arizonans.
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