Alcohol is, by law, an age-restricted product that is regulated
differently than other products. The provisions of this Chapter establish
vital regulation of the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages
in order to promote responsible consumption, combat illegal underage
drinking, and achieve other important policy goals such as maintaining
an orderly marketplace composed of licensed alcohol producers, importers,
distributors, and retailers.
When used in this Chapter, the following words shall have the
following meanings:
CLOSED PLACE
A place where all doors are locked and where no patrons are
in the place or about the premises.
INTOXICATING LIQUOR
Alcohol for beverage purposes, including alcoholic, spirituous,
vinous, fermented, malt, or other liquors, or combination of liquors,
a part of which is spirituous, vinous or fermented, and all preparations
or mixtures for beverage purposes containing in excess of one-half
of one percent (0.5%) by volume. All beverages having an alcoholic
content of less than one-half of one percent (0.5%) by volume shall
be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
LIGHT WINES
An intoxicating liquor consisting of wine containing not
in excess of fourteen percent (14%) of alcohol by weight made exclusively
from grapes, berries and other fruits and vegetables.
MALT LIQUOR
An intoxicating liquor containing alcohol not in excess of
five percent (5%) by weight manufactured from pure hops or pure extract
of hops, or pure barley malt, or wholesome grains or cereals, and
wholesome yeast, and pure water.
ORIGINAL PACKAGE
Any package sealed or otherwise closed by the manufacturer
so as to consist of a self-contained unit, and consisting of one (1)
or more bottles or other containers of intoxicating liquor, where
the package and/or container(s) describes the contents thereof as
intoxicating liquor. "Original package" shall also be construed and
held to refer to any package containing one (1) or more standard bottles,
cans or pouches of beer.
PERSON
An individual, association, firm, joint stock company, syndicate,
partnership, corporation, receiver, trustee, conservator, or any other
officer appointed by any State or Federal court.
The sale of any intoxicating liquor except malt liquor, in the
original package, in any quantity less than fifty (50) milliliters
shall be deemed "sale by the drink" and may be made
only by a holder of a retail liquor dealer's license and, when so
made, the container in every case shall be emptied and the contents
thereof served as other intoxicating liquors sold by the drink are
served.
For purposes of determining violations and prosecution under
this Chapter, or any rule or regulation of the Supervisor of Alcohol
and Tobacco Control, a manufacturer-sealed container describing that
there is intoxicating liquor therein need not be opened or the contents
therein tested to verify that there is intoxicating liquor in such
container. The alleged violator may allege that there was no intoxicating
liquor in such container, but the burden of proof of such allegation
is on such person, as it shall be presumed that such a sealed container
describing that there is intoxicating liquor therein contains intoxicating
liquor.
[Ord. No. 341 §39, 7-8-1996]
A person commits the offense of possession of an open beer or
liquor container if a container of non-intoxicating beer, malt liquor
or intoxicating liquor, as defined by the ordinances of this City
and the laws of the State of Missouri, is found within a motor vehicle
which that person has under his/her control or in which that person
is a passenger or in his/her possession on any public street, alley
or sidewalk, public lot, storeroom, store building, office building,
vacant lot or anyplace in the City outside of a private dwelling or
abode.