I, Deborah Frank Feinen, in my capacity as the Liquor Commissioner for the City of Champaign, Illinois, and pursuant to authority granted me in Section 5-91.9 of the Champaign Municipal Code, 1985 as amended, entitled “Emergency powers,” do hereby find that there may be a threat to the public health, safety and welfare from activities by members of the public within the geographic areas described herein in response to the promotion of an event that has become known locally as “Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day.” I base this finding on the following facts:
- In past years, this event has been promoted, scheduled and conducted over a specific 24 to 48 hour period of time by members of the public and liquor license holders located in the geographic area described below, for at least the last thirteen years, on dates within two or three weeks of the actual St. Patrick’s Day.
- Again this year, the event is being promoted on social media and informally among UI students, alumni, and on other college campuses.
- The event has historically included an unusual extension of hours of operations by participating Class A and Class R liquor license holders, including opening to the public and serving alcoholic beverages as early as 8:00 a.m. on the day or days in question.
- The event has included the promotion and implementation on the days in question of reduced pricing specials on the purchase of alcoholic beverages by participating license holders.
- On the day or days during which the event has occurred, there has generally been a significant increase in the number of arrests within the City of intoxicated persons on public property for committing offenses resulting in personal injuries and damage to property, such as disorderly conduct, battery and criminal damage to property, and a significant increase in hospital emergency room admissions of persons experiencing the adverse effects of dangerous levels of alcohol intoxication.
- On the day or days during which the event has occurred, there has been a significant increase in the sale of alcoholic beverages from Class P licensees, particularly those located within the said geographic area.
- Any licensee found in violation of the Emergency Order will be fined five hundred dollars ($500) per violation.
I have further received reliable information that this year, “Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day” will be conducted within the City limits on, Friday March 4, 2016 and into the early morning hours of Saturday, March 5, 2016. Additionally, this year, a potential exists for the event to extend through the early morning hours of Sunday, March 6, 2016. Based upon said findings, I hereby enter the following emergency order:
A. All businesses currently holding a bar or restaurant liquor license (Class A or Class R) that permits that license holder to sell or serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises, within the City limits of the City of Champaign in the area bounded by Springfield Avenue on the north, Wright Street on the east, Kirby Avenue on the south and north on Neil to Springfield Avenue (see attached map) shall be restricted in the following manner:
- They shall be prohibited from serving or permitting the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages upon their licensed premises between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016 and Saturday March 5, 2016.
- They shall be prohibited from hosting any private functions that result in special drink pricing or other privileges on premises from 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016 until 2:30 a.m., Sunday, March 6, 2016.
- They shall be prohibited from serving beer in pitchers from 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 4, 2016 until 2:30 a.m., Sunday, March 6, 2016.
- They (Class A licensees only) shall be required to have at least one employee at all public entrances to the licensed premises who shall check IDs of all patrons entering the premises during business hours beginning on Friday, March 4, 2016 until 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2016 to insure that said patrons are of legal age to enter the premises, and any employees performing said ID checks shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age during said time period.
- All drinks must be served in aluminum containers (e.g. bottles or cans) or paper or plastic cups from 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016 until 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2016.
- Patron entry age for all Class A licensees in the area described above is 21 years or older between 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016 until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016.
- Patron entry age for all Class A licensees in the area described above is 21 years or older between 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016 until 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2016.
B. All businesses currently holding a Class P package liquor license allowing for the sale of package liquor for consumption off the premises within the geographic area bounded by University Avenue on the north, Wright Street on the east, State Street on the west and Kirby Avenue on the south, shall be prohibited from selling package liquor between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016 and Saturday, March 5, 2016.
C. Completion of an Adult Responsibility Form prescribed by the Liquor Commissioner prior to the sale of the following quantities must be made and maintained by all Class P package liquor establishments:
- 168 or more 12 ounce containers of beer or malt beverage.
- 100 ounces or 3,000 mL of distilled spirits.
- 1 Keg
D. No keg permits will be issued by the Liquor Commissioner for the time period from 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 4, 2016 until 2:30 a.m. Sunday, March 6, 2016. It is unlawful to possess more than 1 keg per residence
E. If the police determine that the pedestrian traffic impedes the vehicular traffic in the area affected by this order, the police have the authority to order any or all liquor-licensed establishments to close until further notice or until the termination of this Order.
Entered on this 19th day of February, 2016.
Deborah Frank Feinen
Liquor Commissioner for the City of Champaign, Illinois