(A) Establishments within the city which are licensed to sell beer or wine by the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s Alcohol Beverage Licensing Division for on premise consumption shall close not later than 12:00 midnight, Monday through Sunday, and remain closed until 7:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
(B) The term “closing” or “closed,” as used in this section, during the hours set out in this section, shall mean that the sale shall be entirely stopped and the traffic effectively shut off during such hours so that drinking and the conveniences for drinking and other activities shall be no longer accessible, and that those who frequent the places for that purpose or other purposes during such hours shall be dispersed. The offense consists of the place being open, not in selling or offering to sell or give away. This section shall be in force at the back door as well as at the front. The intent of the Council in enacting this section is that the places covered herein are to be closed during certain hours, and a beer joint, saloon or tavern is not closed within the meaning of this section when the public or any part of it is allowed to stay in the beer joint, saloon or tavern. If the doors are closed and drinking takes place, such beer joint, saloon or tavern is not closed and the owner thereof is subject to the provisions and penalties of this section. Further, such beer joint, saloon or tavern is not closed within the meaning of this section when, after locking up, any person remains in the beer joint, saloon or tavern with the owner, keeper or employee, and such persons, after scrubbing or cleaning up, take a “night cap” before leaving. This section requires the proprietor to see that his beer joint, saloon or tavern is not open for any purpose within the hours and conditions set out in this section.
(C) Establishments within the city which are licensed to sell beer or wine by the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s Alcohol Beverage Licensing Division for only off premise consumption shall be exempt from this section, but must comply with all other state and local laws.
(D) Reports of violations and convictions under this section shall be made to the State Tax Commission, Beverage Tax Division.
(‘90 Code, § 4-1) (Ord. passed 4-5-65; Am. Ord. passed 9-13-65; Am. Ord. 2017-01, passed 2-13-17) Penalty, see §
10.99