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Chattanooga: Beer board discusses Riverbend

By: Jacqueline Koch
(Contact)

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Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board

Though the Riverbend Festival is more than half a year away, members of the Chattanooga Beer and Wrecker Board discussed Thursday how the annual event better could handle the way it sells alcohol.

Event organizer Friends of the Festival was cited by the board after two vendors sold alcohol to minors at this summer’s festival during compliance checks by the Chattanooga Police Department. The board has said it may discuss whether to hold vendors or the organization liable when alcohol is sold to minors.

Only those wearing wristbands can buy alcohol, and festival employees are supposed to check ID on everyone who wants to drink. Two vendors at this year’s festival allowed minors to obtain wristbands and buy beer during compliance checks June 7, according to Chattanooga Times Free Press archives.

Board Chairwoman Kathy Jones distributed a list compiled by Friends of the Festival showing the ways similar festivals across the nation handle liability for selling alcohol.

For example, Sunfest in West Palm Beach, Fla., requires an ID for every purchase of alcohol, and under Florida law the seller of the product — and not the license holder — is held liable.

At Memphis in May, an independent third party sells alcohol and checks IDs with every sale. The third party is responsible for violations but also has individual sellers sign off as being responsible, according to the document.

“They’re just trying to be proactive and ensure, like I said, we have ample opportunity to discuss it and amend, if necessary, the special event,” Ms. Jones said.

Riverbend Executive Director Chip Baker has told the board he will answer any questions members have, Ms. Jones said.

In addition to discussing Riverbend, the board denied a wrecker application submitted by Darlene Barr for All About Towing. Ms. Barr appeared before the board at the last meeting, asking that her company be placed on the city’s wrecker rotation.

Ms. Barr told the board she had not filled out the application nor signed it herself, at which time she was told she needed to submit a new one. She did not appear at Thursday’s meeting.

Board member Christopher Keene again expressed concern that Ms. Barr was acting as a front for others in the company who have faced criminal charges.

“This is just not a good situation,” he said.

The board also voted to grant a special events beer permit to Rachel Dickson for Halloween Jam 2008, scheduled for Oct. 31 at the National Guard Armory at 1801 Holtzclaw Ave. The event will be the first party hosted at the armory since a shooting there in late August, officials said.

Chattanooga police officer John Collins told the board he spoke with armory officials who said they no longer would allow parties with beer at their facility. They appeared to change their minds, however, when Ms. Dickson approached about her event, he said.

Ms. Dickson said at Thursday’s meeting she’ll have at least seven security guards watching the 18-and-over party and the parking lot, as well as wristbands to differentiate between underage and drinking-age patrons.

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