It shall be unlawful for any individual to consume any alcoholic beverage in any commercial establishment located within the city for which a retail liquor dealer's license is then not presently issued. Any owner or employee of such commercial establishment who knowingly permits such consumption to take place shall also be guilty of a violation of this section. For purposes of this section, a commercial establishment shall be deemed to be any place of business whose primary activity is the sale of goods, merchandise or food. Notwithstanding the foregoing, alcoholic beverages may be given away and consumed for no charge or any other form of remuneration at any "special event" defined as follows: a gathering of persons sponsored or conducted by a business or an organization, for a duration of not more than eight hours, without an admission charge, held on private property and either open to the general public or not open to the general public. Special events include, but are not limited to: grand openings, special promotions, exhibit openings and ribbon cutting ceremonies.
('69 Code, § 3-36) (Ord. O-84-6, passed 5-14-84; Am. Ord. O-08-19, passed 9-22-08) Penalty, see § 111.99