Sec. 3-8. Hours of operation of businesses permitted to sell alcoholic beverages.

(a)    Between the hours of 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, and 12:01 a.m. on Monday, those persons who are required to obtain state or local permits for the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages shall not sell, serve, dispense or permit the consumption of any alcoholic beverage. Any establishment, or any portion thereof, including, but not limited to, the bar or cocktail lounge portion of any hotel, motel or restaurant, from which alcoholic beverages are the principal commodity sold or handled, shall close and remain closed continuously between the hours of 2:30 a.m. on Sunday and 12:01 a.m. on Monday.

(b)   Notwithstanding the prohibition hereinabove, between the hours of 12:00 noon on Sunday, and 12:01 a.m. Monday:

(1)    Motels, hotels and convention facilities shall be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages to groups, guests, and other private functions, but shall be prohibited from opening their bars or lounges to the general public.

(2)    Religious, charitable, fraternal, veterans and other private clubs, licensed under the provisions of this chapter, may be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages to members and guests, conditioned upon applicant providing to the mayor, a letter of determination of exempt status issued by the Internal Revenue Service verifying the non profit status.

(3)    Those persons or establishments holding a restaurant endorsement permit may be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages in conjunction with meals, served on the premises, provided the restaurant facilities are open and in operation during the same period. The Mayor may issue a restaurant endorsement permit, in accordance with R.S. 26:272.

(4)    The mayor may issue a special permit authorizing the opening of an establishment and/or the sale, serving or dispensing and consumption beverages, after reviewing an acceptable and notarized application to be obtained from the city. A special permit may be issued for only private functions, and shall not be used for events the purpose or the effect of which would be the sale, serving, dispensing or permitting the consumption of alcoholic beverages to the general public. A fee shall be charged for each special permit application.

(Ord. No. 7617, § 1, 5-18-83; Ord. No. 7656, § 1, 7-20-83; Ord. No. 10597, §§ 1—5, 11-1-95; Ord. No. 10856, § 1, 12-4-96)

Sec. 3-8.4. Supermarket, grocery store, convenience store or drug store.

Any supermarket, grocery store, gift shop, convenience store or drug store may sell beverages of low alcoholic content as defined herein, between the hours of 2:00 a.m., on Sunday, and 12:01 a.m., on Monday, provided that said beverages are not the principal commodity sold or handled.

Beverages of low-alcoholic content for the purpose of this section only, means alcoholic beverages containing not more than 20 per cent alcohol by volume.

(Ord. No. 10857, § 2, 12-4-96; Ord. No. 12628, § 1, 12-4-02; Ord. No. 13241, § 1, 12-1-04)

Sec. 3-11. Alcoholic beverage employee card—Requirements and exceptions.

(a)    It shall be unlawful for any Class A alcoholic beverage holder to allow any employee to work at their permitted outlet without a valid alcoholic beverage card.

(b)   This section is not applicable to any Class A alcoholic beverage outlet who also maintains a valid restaurant permit or has a Title 26 exemption, which includes any outlet which has a nonprofit, tax exempt status (i.e., religious or fraternal organizations).

(c)    Each applicant for an alcoholic beverage employee card shall meet the following qualifications and conditions:

(1)    He must be a person of good character and reputation and over 18 years of age.

(2)    He must not have been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the State of Louisiana, or any other state or country, within five years prior to application.

(3)    He has not been convicted in this or any other state or by the United States of soliciting for prostitution, pandering, letting premises for prostitution, contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, keeping a disorderly place, letting a disorderly place, illegally dealing in narcotics or any violation of the controlled dangerous substance statute, within five years prior to application.

(4)    He must not have been convicted of violating any of the provisions of this chapter.

(5)    He must not have had his alcoholic beverage employee card revoked within two years next preceding the application.

(6)    He must not have been convicted of violating any municipal or parish ordinance relating to alcoholic beverages, within two years prior to application.

If the applicant for a card does not possess the required qualifications, the card shall be denied.

(Ord. No. 13480, § 1, 9-7-05)

Sec. 3-11.1. Same—Issuance of card.

(a)    Issuance of card shall be as follows:

(1)    All employees hired after January 1, 2006, must possess a valid alcoholic beverage employee card prior to employment.

(2)    All employees hired prior to January 1, 2006, must possess a valid alcoholic beverage employee card by March 1, 2006.

(3)    Alcoholic beverage employee cards must be obtained at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office or other office designated by the city. A valid form of identification must be submitted.

(4)    All applicants must meet the criteria of section 3-11(c) and be approved by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office or any other office designated by the City to administer bar cards.

(5)    Once approved, a picture ID card will be issued which includes fingerprints, and other vital statistics necessary for proper identification.

(6)    This card must be kept in the possession of the alcoholic beverage employee at all times. This card is not transferable.

(7)    Every permit holder must renew all of his employee’s alcoholic beverage employee cards yearly, by submitting said, with cost, to the parish license officer or any other designated license officer by November 1 of the next preceding year.

Any individual who possesses a valid alcoholic beverage card and becomes employed by any permit holder after November 1, thus not within the above criteria, must have the card validated prior to January 1 of the next preceding year.

  1. Permit holder’s failure to submit such with his application for renewal of his Class A permit with the appropriate cost, could be reason for suspension.
  2. Permittee will be notified by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, or any other designated license officer, if any employee no longer qualifies under the criteria of section 3-11(c). If additional information is necessary (i.e., new photo, address change, name change, etc.), the employee must submit the requested information or be subject to a suspension.
  3. If all employees meet the criteria, the card(s) will be mailed back to the permit holder prior to January 1.
  4. All cards not validated by January 1 become void.

(8)    Fees:

  1. Initial fee: $20.00
  2. Replacement fee: $5.00 (i.e., if lost, destroyed or for any reason the employee did not have his card renewed).
  3. Renewal fee: $5.00 per employee.

Under a. and b. above, the individual must personally apply at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office or other office designated by the city.

(9)    Any applicant who is not qualified and/or approved for a bar card has a right of appeal under section 3-11.4