This article is being written to continue my discussion on gaining and maintaining a Series 9 “off sale” liquor license in the state of Arizona. My last article discussed the process of purchasing a Series 9 license. It is important to note that these are “quota” licenses, meaning that only so many are issued by the DLLC. This means, for practical purposes, the options for obtaining a license will be to buy one from an existing holder. An experienced attorney can assist you with this process. In this article, I will discuss important steps towards keeping a license in good standing after it has been obtained. If you are a purveyor in need of assistance, then contact my office today to speak with a Phoenix lawyer.
Maintaining a Series 9 license’s good standing requires compliance with liquor laws and regulations
The bulk of the problems which arise for the holders of Series 9 licenses involve failures to follow applicable laws and regulations. While a suggestion of “follow the rules” may seem straightforward, the fact of the matter is that many purveyors fail to do so. This, in turn, creates problems for their ability to maintain their license. Common examples of issues which can create problems include:
- Failing to submit renewal applications on time
- Failing to timely file and pay taxes related to one’s business
- Failing to follow state or local laws regarding when and where product may be sold
- Failing to properly ID patrons
- Not following all “off sale” requirements – such as allowing on-site drinking
- Failing to properly display one’s license, etc.
The DLLC often raises issues such as this with license holders after a) a report has been made or b) a random audit discovered a problem. Regardless of how an infraction was discovered, the type and scale of the violation can lead to serious problems for the license holder.
A first step towards protecting against the types of violations discussed above is to work with qualified professionals. Staying in regular contact with an attorney and an accountant, for example, means that others who are versed in the various legal and financial requirements will be protecting your interests. It is the role of these individuals to make sure that deadlines are met and that a license holder is aware of any changes in the laws or regulations. Also, it should be remembered that the owner of a liquor store, for example, is going to be most concerned with running their business. Various regulations are something they must “deal with.” For professionals such as attorneys or accountants, however, dealing with such issues is their business. The value of having the proper help cannot be overstated.
A second step towards protecting against various violations is to properly screen employees and to train one’s staff appropriately. Many violations occur not as a result of there being no policies in place – they occur as a result of staff not enforcing policies. If, for example, a clerk is going to knowingly allow someone to drink on the premises, then having a policy against it has little practical effect. An attorney can assist a license holder with developing training plans and policy manuals which can be used to ensure proper work by staff.
Contact my Phoenix office to speak with an Arizona liquor law lawyer
If you hold a Series 9 liquor license, then it is vital that you keep it in good standing. Failing to do so can mean losing the ability to do business. I am an Arizona liquor law lawyer who assists license holders with ongoing issues as well as with any matters involving the DLLC. I focus on this area of law so that you may focus on the most important thing – your business. Contact my firm online or by telephone today to schedule an initial consultation. My Phoenix office also services Maricopa County areas like Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert, as well as Pima County residents in Tucson.
