ENACTED 01/19/1999

ORDINANCE NO. O98-1474

An ordinance to amend Section 6.12.060 of the Metro Code of Laws to amend the hours of operation which a business may operate a public dance or public dancehall to be consistent with the hours of operation during which beer may be sold and consumed on premises having a valid beer permit and to amend Section 6.12.070 for consistency with Section 7.08.170.

 Whereas, many businesses which operate public dances or public dancehalls are also holders of valid beer permits; and

Whereas, the hours of operation permitted for public dances or public dancehalls differ from the hours of operation permitted for the sale and consumption of beer on premises, which hold a valid beer permit; and

Whereas, pursuant to Section 7.08.170 (C) of the Metropolitan Code of Laws as authorized by Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-5-301, beer may be sold, given away or consumed on premises with a valid beer permit at all times except between the hours of Three a.m. and Six a.m. on weekdays and between Three a.m. and Noon on Sundays; and

Whereas, currently, businesses with only beer permits may allow minors to sit at a table if there is beer being served if one or both parents are present and it is served in conjunction with food but, businesses with both beer and dance permits may not even allow minors to enter the premises; and

Whereas, the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County desires to amend the Metropolitan Code of Laws to permit public dances to continue and all public dancehalls to remain open during the same hours of operation in which beer may be sold or consumed on premises with a valid beer permit and to make the laws with respect to the entrance of minors consistent among the beer and dance laws.

Now therefore, be it enacted by the Council of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County as follows:

Section 1. Section 6.12.060 of the Metropolitan Code is amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

All public dances shall be discontinued and all public dancehalls closed from three a.m. to six a.m. on weekdays and Saturday and from three a.m. to noon on Sundays.

Section 2. Section 6.12.070 of the Metropolitan Code is amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

It is unlawful for any dance permit holder or his agent or employee to allow any person under eighteen years of age to loiter or congregate about the premises when alcoholic beverages are being sold. The burden of ascertaining the age of minor persons shall be on the permit holder and his agent or employee. When a minor is seated at a table, there shall be no beer served at the table unless such minor is accompanied by one or both parents, but only if served in conjunction with food.

Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored By: Charles Fentress

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Introduced:	December 1, 1998
Passed First Reading:	December 1, 1998
Referred to:	Public Safety Committee
Passed Second Reading:	December 15, 1998
Passed Third Reading:	January 19, 1999
Approved:	January 26, 1999
By: