(A) The fact that an applicant has been convicted of or has been placed on supervision for a drug or alcohol-related offense or suspension of a liquor license in any other jurisdiction shall be considered in the review of an application for any license or renewal thereof, and may be the basis for the denial of the license or renewal of any license hereunder. For purposes of this chapter, ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSE includes driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, and any offenses involving the possession, transfer, or consumption of alcohol.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C), no liquor license shall be issued to:
(1) An individual person who is not a resident of the village;
(2) An individual person who is not of good character and reputation in the community in which the person resides, or is an habitual user of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, marijuana, or controlled substances;
(3) An individual person who is not a citizen of the United States;
(4) An individual person who has been convicted of a felony under federal or state law;
(5) An individual person who has been convicted of being the keeper or is keeping a house of ill fame;
(6) An individual person who has been convicted of pandering or other crime or misdemeanor opposed to decency and morality;
(7) An individual person whose license under this chapter or under the Liquor Control Act has been revoked for cause;
(8) An individual person who at the time of application for renewal of any license issued hereunder would not be eligible for the license upon a first application;
(9) A copartnership, if any general partnership thereof or any limited partnership thereof, owning more than 5% of the aggregate limited partner interest in the copartnership, would not be eligible to receive a license hereunder for any reason other than residence;
(10) A corporation, if any officer, manager, or director thereof, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate more than 5% of the stock of the corporation, would not be eligible to receive a license hereunder for any reason other than United States citizenship and residence within the village;
(11) A corporation, unless it is incorporated in this state, or unless it is a foreign corporation which is qualified under the Business Corporation Act to transact business in this state;
(12) A person whose place of business is conducted by a manager or agent, unless the manager or agent possesses the same qualifications required by the licensee, and is a resident or becomes a resident of the village within one year of adoption of this code of ordinances;
(13) A person who has been convicted of a violation of any federal or state law concerning the manufacture, possession, or sale of alcoholic liquor, or who shall have forfeited a bond to appear in court to answer charges for any violation;
(14) A person who does not beneficially own the premises for which a license is sought, or does not have a lease thereon for the full period for which the license is issued;
(15) Any law enforcing village public official, officer, or employee or member of any village board or commission; and no official shall be interested in any way, either directly or indirectly, in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of alcoholic liquor;
(16) Any person, firm, or corporation not eligible for a state retail liquor dealer’s license;
(17) Any applicant who fails to obtain a state liquor license;
(18) A person who is not a beneficial owner of the business to be operated by the licensee;
(19) A person who has been convicted of a gambling offense as proscribed by 720 ILCS 5/28-1(a)(3) through (a)(11), 28-1.1, or 28-3, or as proscribed by a statute replacing any of the aforesaid statutory provisions;
(20) Federal gaming device or wagering stamps; or
(21) A person or entity to whom a federal wagering stamp has been issued by the federal government, unless the person or entity is eligible to be issued a license under 230 ILCS 15/0.01 et seq. or 230 ILCS 20/1 et seq.
(C) A criminal conviction of a corporation is not grounds for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license applied for or held by the corporation if the criminal conviction was not the result of a violation of any federal, state or local law concerning the manufacture, possession or sale of alcoholic liquor, the offense that led to the conviction did not result in any financial gain to the corporation and the corporation has terminated its relationship with each director, employee or controlling shareholder whose actions directly contributed to the conviction of the corporation. The State Commission shall determine if all provisions of this division (C) have been met before any action on the corporation’s license is initiated.
Statutory reference:
Restrictions on state licensees, see 235 ILCS 5/6-2