South Carolina Alcohol Beverage License Attorneys: Obtaining and Protecting Your SC ABL License
ABL License laws and regulations, including the South Carolina Alcohol Beverages Control Act, set forth when, and if, an application for a South Carolina liquor license may be granted by the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Let one of our experienced Alcohol Beverage License Attorneys guide you through the permitting process
SC Alcohol Beverage Licensing law sets forth the information and requirements you must follow for the state permit application necessary to obtain, and maintain an alcoholic license. Even if you are a small local SC bar, brewery or restaurant business, your revenue and ultimately your livelihood and your employment of others may depend upon revenue generated from selling beer, wine, or liquor on premises. When obtaining a SC ABL license is critical to your livelihood, you need to hire a Columbia, SC alcoholic and beverage license attorney to guide you through the dealings with our state government. Contact us now for a free consultation. 803.252.4800.
Our SC liquor licensing attorneys represent clients throughout the hospitality industry, including the following:
- Beer, wine and liquor wholesalers (distributors)
- Breweries / Microbreweries
- Farm Wineries
- Restaurants, night clubs and taverns
- Package liquor stores
- Grocery and convenience stores
- Fraternal and social clubs
- Hotels
- Civic centers, stadiums, entertainment complexes and concert venues
- Municipalities and redevelopment commissions and authorities
- Tobacco shops and cigar bars
- Country clubs and golf courses
- Real estate developers and landlords
- Caterers and Event planners
- Businesses engaging in charitable events
- Other clients holding alcoholic beverage permits (liquor permits or liquor licenses) before the South Carolina Department of Revenue and other liquor control boards throughout the United States.
We also can assist clients with matters related to the hospitality industry including the following:
- Organizing business entities and conducting necessary filings to start a hospitality business.
- Conducting the land use, zoning and planning analysis and filing the proper petitions in order for hospitality businesses to operate at certain locations.
- Providing legal counsel and litigation services regarding laws affecting health, safety and welfare issues and labor and employment matter common to the SC hospitality industry.
SC Alcohol License Law Defense:
- Denial of a commercial SC ABL License request;
- Failure to timely renew a SC ABL;
- Issuance of a dishonored check;
- Serving underage patrons at your premises;
- Staying open after hours or beyond permitted law, you must check your local law for addtional requirements;
- Improper payment of excise tax, or
- An appeal of the revocation of your SC ABL License,
Whether you are applying for an on premises South Carolina retail liquor license, or a South Carolina on premises liquor by the drink license, or even seeking a Sunday liquor license, it is important to understand that the process is anything but simple. What you may assume to be a simple automated process to obtain a South Carolina license to sell alcoholic liquors is complicated by forms, complex regulations, and administrative law court rulings. Numerous South Carolina alcohol and beverage license applications have been initially denied and must be appealed .
The Government regulations more often sited for denial of an on premises S.C. liquor license include:
- Proximity to a church, school or playground;
- Proximity to a neighborhood;
- An allegation of bad moral character;
- Evidence that the area surrounding the proposed premises location is already saturated/suitability of location or not a suitable location.
Fighting Administrative Liquor License Fines or Revocations
Obtaining SC Liquor License is just the beginning of issues which must occur in your establishment. Whether you are operating with an off premises liquor license or you operate a restaurant and employ a bartender to serve liquor drinks, charges against a South Carolina license to sell alcoholic liquors are not uncommon.
Common Liquor License Violations for a bar, brewery, restaurant or club may include:
- Selling liquor during restricted hours
- Sale of liquor to underage individuals/sale of liquor to minors
- Violation of limits placed upon a license
- Writing a bad check to the South Carolina Department of Revenue
- Sale of alcoholic liquors by a private club to a non-member or someone who is not a bona fide guest of a member.
- Selling liquor on Sunday without a Sunday liquor license for the property
Reasons for denial of a South Carolina Beer and Wine License include:
- How close the proposed permit location is to a church, school or playground;
- Whether issuance of the SC beer and wine license will impact a close neighborhood;
- an allegation that the applicant has bad moral character, including a prior criminal history;
- testimony or other evidence provided by a protestant that the area surrounding the proposed location is already saturated or that the location is not otherwise suitable.
- Selling beer or wine during restricted hours/after hours
- Selling beer or wine to an underage individual/sale of beer or wine to minors
- Violation of limits/exceeding limits placed upon a beer and wine license
- Writing a bad check to the South Carolina Department of Revenue
- Selling beer or wine in a private club to someone who is neither a member nor a bona fide guest of a member.
- Selling beer or wine on Sunday in without a Sunday sales license
If obtaining a South Carolina beer and wine license is important to you, our Columbia, South Carolina liquor attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss your legal rights. When your livelihood is at stake, let us give you advice you through the process.
Retail Liquor Licensing in South Carolina
Businesses in South Carolina are required to register with the state for a retail license if they wish to sell certain items or services. A retail license registers your business with the state so that you can legally sell new items to the public, and helps South Carolina keep up with your business taxes. South Carolina requires every business that sells licenses to the public to register for a retail business license, and if you do not file for a retail license before you begin selling to the public, you are breaking the state’s law and you may need a retail license attorney. It is not unusual in South Carolina for a business to have more than one type of license
Restaurants, for example, can have both a retail and a wholesale liquor license. Hotels often have bars and restaurants, so they have multiple business and retail licenses to ensure the legality of each operation. Even if you agreed to open a retail business similar to the business you already operate, you must apply for a new retail alcohol license; you may not use one license for two stores.
Different types of retail licenses allow you, as a hospitality business owner, to sell food or alcohol. Regardless of whether you want to operate as a convenience store, grocery store, beer and wine shop, or even as a restaurant, beer and wine permits are heavily regulated in South Carolina. What you may assume to be a simple automated process to obtain a South Carolina license to sell alcoholic and wine is complicated by forms, complex regulations, and administrative law court rulings. Numerous South Carolina alcohol and beverage license applications have been initially denied. With regard to those who have obtained a South Carolina beer and wine beverage license, many have had their South Carolina beer and wine licenses suspended or even revoked.
You must pay your state, local and property taxes
You must to pay business taxes, your retail license will be revoked. Business licenses, especially retail and alcohol beverage licenses, can be very difficult to get back. Paying back taxes can include penalties and interest. Your business could be closed for months while you finish paying and reapplying for your retail license, which means you could lose valuable income and customers.
Call Today for a Free ABL Consultation
SC liquor license violations are serious and may result in fines, suspension, or even revocation of your South Carolina liquor license. Suspension or revocation of your license will impact your financial security. If you need more information or help with the issuance of a liquor license, call the South Carolina Liquor License Attorneys at Strom Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation. 803-252-4800 by email at [email protected] on this website.
