FARGO (KFGO) – It recently came to the attention of Fargo city leaders that businesses operating events like wedding receptions and corporate events may be allowing customers to bring their own alcohol to those events for a fee. City Auditor Steve Sprague said they want people to know that is a violation of the North Dakota Century Code.
“Any person operating an establishment whereby the persons are allowed to bring their own alcoholic beverages on the premises is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor,” Sprague said.
Sprague said the subject came up at a recent Liquor Control Board meeting.
“We heard it’s common practice and in discussion with our attorney, she immediately said that’s a violation of the ‘Bottle Club’ rule where you’re not allowed to bring alcohol into a facility,” Sprague said. “You have to purchase that alcohol from whoever has the facility or, if it’s an unlicensed facility, you have to have somebody with a liquor license bring their license there with an event permit.”
He said they don’t know of any specific cases where that has happened, but they want to get the word out that it is against the law.
“If it’s being done, I’m sure it’s being done unintentionally,” Sprague said. “I don’t think we have anybody out there that’s intentionally violating the law.”
