Denver Parks and Recreation News
Release Date: 2-07-2007

Denver Parks and Recreation to propose change in alcohol policy to comply with state law

 (Denver) Denver Parks and recreation will hold a public meeting and 30-day comment session to collect public feedback regarding changes to the department’s alcohol policy.  The public hearing will take place from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2007 at the Montclair Civic Building located at 6820 E. 12th Avenue, Denver, 80220.  This meeting will be part of the March Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting at 6:00 pm. 

In 2006, the Department of Parks and Recreation adopted a policy related to the consumption, serving and selling of alcoholic beverages in its parks and facilities.  One aspect of this policy addressed races and walks that occur in Denver parks.

The initial policy allowed a race/walk organizer to set up a defined area near the finish line where only race participants could enter and be served 3.2 beer, wine and champagne.  It has since been discovered that State Liquor Laws consider this arrangement to be illegal since they consider the race/walk entry fee an “indirect payment” for the alcoholic beverages and therefore requires a liquor license.  In order to remain consistent with the initial intent of the policy, the Department of Parks and Recreation is proposing a change to the policy which requires that the race organizer obtain a Special Events Liquor License from the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses.  All laws, rules and regulations regarding obtaining a Special Events Liquor License from Excise and Licenses will apply.

The new policy will expand the allowable alcoholic beverages to beer, wine and champagne.  It will also allow the sale of these beverages as compared to the original policy which only allowed the serving of 3.2 beer.  In addition, the new policy will allow anyone in attendance to purchase or be served these alcoholic beverages as compared to the original policy which restricted those allowed to be served to only race participants.

Public feedback will be taken into consideration in drafting the final policy amendment through Monday, April 9, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.  Authority to establish governing rules and regulations for Parks and Recreation is vested with The Manager of Parks and Recreation.   Written comments can be submitting to: Denver Parks and Recreation, Manager’s Office, Department 601, Denver, CO  80202.  Click here for a summary of the proposed alcohol policy revisions.

To view the original policy in full, please visit: http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/476/documents/ALCOHOLPOLICY.pdf.  For more information, contact Brenda Marquez, 720-913-0739.