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City anticipates double the liquor licenses New law will eventually increase bar and grill liquor licenses from two to six

Thanks to a change in Wyoming law, the City of Sundance will have double the bar and grill liquor licenses within the next couple of months – and triple the current number by 2028.

The Wyoming State Legislature passed SF 13 this year: bar and grill liquor license phaseout. The intent was to phase out the current population formulas used to figure out how many licenses a municipality or county can have.

The population formulas currently allocate two licenses to Sundance. One of those is in use by Uncle Louie’s Diner, while the other is still available.

SF 13 specifies that the number of licenses for cities and towns will now be based on a new population formula. As of July 1, it allows four licenses for municipalities under 7500 in population.

The formula provides ten licenses for populations between 7501 and 20,000 in population, 14 for populations between 20,001 and 30,000 and one additional license for every additional 5000 people residing in cities over 30,000 in population.

These numbers then increase again on July 1, 2028. At that time, cities like Sundance with populations under 7500 will be allowed six licenses.

Cities between 7501 and 20,000 in population will be granted 14 licenses; cities with populations between 20,001 and 30,000 will be allowed 18 licenses; and one additional license will be permitted for every additional 3000 persons above that number.

The new law also affects county licenses. As of July 1, four licenses will be allowed for every 7500 persons residing outside incorporated cities and towns; this will increase to six licenses in 2028.

The statute also sets out guidelines for bar and grill liquor licenses. All sales of alcoholic and malt beverages must cease at the same time as food sales and services (or at hours specified in W.S. 12-5-101(a)).

Patrons will be allowed to remove one partially consumed bottle of wine to consume off the premises as long as they have purchased and eaten a full-course meal and drank part of the bottle while doing so.

License applicants will need to prove that at least 60% of their revenue will come from food and entertainment, rather than from the sale of alcohol. When a license is renewed, the town or county will need to require that this has been the case for the preceding 12 months.

The statute also states that the town or county, as the licensing authority, must “consider the type, level and appropriateness of food services and entertainment sales proposed in each application when determining whether to issue or renew a bar and grill license”.

Clerk-Treasurer Theresa Curren brought this to the Sundance City Council’s attention last week, explaining that the mayor and council will need “to come up with a definition of entertainment” appropriate for Sundance before the law comes into effect.

The statute itself defines entertainment as “any activity designed to provide diversion or amusement, regardless of the age required for the activity”. Curren noted that it does not include “adult entertainment” and asked the council to ponder this definition in the coming weeks.

 
 
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