The Alcohol Licensing Review Committee's Nightclub Subcommittee met with bar and nightclub owners Thursday to make final preparations for the adoption of a new license issued to bars and nightclubs that would allow adults who are under 21 years of age to enter establishments where alcohol is being served.
\This ordinance will give establishments the ability for more all-age venues and will give us a legal solution that will allow underagers to have live music and dance,"" said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.
While no final decisions were made Thursday, the subcommittee met with bar and club owners to discuss what changes would have to be made once the new licenses were purchased.
According to Stephanie Rearick, chairman of the nightclub subcommittee, facilities that have live bands or music after 9 p.m. and have a crowd of more than 100 people present will be required to attain this new license.
Specifically, restaurants will be made to identify which patrons are under the age of 21, either by wristbands or some other means.
However, taverns will not be allowed to admit underage patrons unless they apply for a different license that will classify the establishment as a Liberal Arts Venue.
""We want to be specific enough with these guidelines so that the managers that are allowed to get these licenses will be good individuals who will do these events well,"" Rearick said.
""We are taking [this issue] very seriously. View this as a privilege,"" she said.
Due to the complexity of creating a license that will allow taverns to admit adults under 21, Rearick stressed that the nightclub licenses will be sold before the Performing Arts License.
As of yet, neither Rearick nor Verveer have encountered any resistance or opposition groups that oppose the new licenses. In fact, they noted most establishments seemed overjoyed at the prospect of exposing younger audiences to live concerts and alternative forms of entertainment.
""These licensees will be very important for restaurants, entertainment bars or music bars that are interested in doing 18 and over shows,"" said Steve Sperling, general manager of the Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Ave.
Verveer said the new licenses would go into effect by fall of 2004.
