What Liquor License Compliance Does And Why You Need A Legal Team
At Viva Beverage Law, there are many tasks we can handle related to helping business owners sell alcohol. Attorney Lauren Acquaviva and her team know how confusing and at times frustrating obtaining a liquor license can be. After approval, it can also be stressful to maintain your approval by staying in compliance with the changing ordinances and laws. But when you have us at your side, it means you get a legal team who is fully dedicated to ensuring your business is following law and that you won’t have to worry about legalities as you run your business. If you have questions about Liquor License Compliance, reach out now for assistance!
Liquor License Compliance
Before you are able to sell anything under your business, you need to obtain a business license for the state of South Carolina. After you get this retail license, you can then apply to sell liquor. But there are different licenses depending on what you want to sell. When meeting with you, we may ask what types of alcohol you plan to sell and in what ways you are offering them to the public. For instance, certain licenses allow for consumption on-site, and others allow for sales where consumption is taken off-site. If you aren’t sure which license you need based on how you plan to sell alcohol, then contact us today to ensure Liquor License Compliance!
Once you have passed the necessary site inspections and background checks, posted your public notice in the newspaper for no less than 15 days, entered and submitted everything correctly, then you can get a liquor license between 6-8 weeks. But there can be delays that interfere with this process, such as mistakes made on the paperwork or public protests that result in hearings. However, we have dealt with issues like these and can help you get past them with minimal impacts to your business. For more details on what we can do for you, schedule a consultation at your earliest convenience!
Many business owners find that getting a South Carolina liquor license isn’t easy, and then once they have one, all of the nuanced alcohol rules and regulations make it challenging to stay in compliance with them. Lauren Acquaviva, our South Carolina liquor license compliance services lawyer, started Viva Beverage Law specifically to help people with alcohol compliance and licensing services. To find out how Lauren might be able to help you with your alcohol compliance issues, contact us today.
How Liquor License Compliance Lawyers Help Businesses
South Carolina’s liquor license compliance system is a complex landscape of state and local regulations. Many small and large, new and veteran business owners alike seek the help of an alcohol license lawyer to make sure all of their “i’s” are dotted and their “t’s” are crossed when it comes to selling alcohol- literally because even a small clerical error can make things harder for you by delaying things or causing extra scrutiny during he application process. While many business owners think that hiring a South Carolina liquor license compliance services lawyer is too costly for their operation, your ROI of getting licensing matters taken care of correctly, efficiently, and without stress on your part, will most likely pay off in more ways than just financially.
An alcohol compliance lawyer can help to make sure that their business stays compliant with South Carolina’s ever-changing laws and ordinances.
Most owners and managers of businesses that sell alcohol make a point of abiding by all alcohol compliance laws. Still, unfortunately, a mistake by an employee or yourself can put your permission to keep doing this in jeopardy. Common mistakes that establishments selling alcohol often make include operating with expired permits, failing inspections by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR), over-serving visibly intoxicated customers, and improper promotions such as pay-to-play incentives or illegal discounts. Having a liquor license lawyer in your corner who regularly reviews your operations can help you to catch and fix risks early.
For different reasons, business owners and managers often ignore violation notices from SLED and SCDOR. You should not panic when this happens because a good lawyer can help negotiate settlements, request hearings, or fight to get the charges dismissed. You typically only have 30 days or less to request a hearing, so time is of the essence.
Why Experience Is Essential For A License Compliance Lawyer
When a big part or all of your business’s income is from liquor, too much is on the line to risk getting help from an inexperienced or unqualified lawyer. When you work with Attorney Lauren, you can rest assured knowing you are working with someone who:
- Graduated in the top third of her class at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
- Is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, Charleston County Bar Association, and the Charleston Tax Council.
- Prior to opening our firm, worked for six years for the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) litigating alcohol licensing and tax matters on behalf of the Department.
To learn about how our highly experienced South Carolina liquor license compliance services lawyer at Viva Beverage Law can help you with your alcohol compliance needs, contact us today.
Liquor License Compliance Services FAQs
Operating a business that serves alcohol means keeping up with a range of rules that change depending on your location, license type, and service model. In South Carolina, businesses face routine inspections, changing policies, and enforcement actions that can put a liquor license at risk. Working with a South Carolina liquor license compliance services lawyer can make a big difference. From renewing permits to responding to violations, legal support makes it easier to stay in line with the law and protect your business long term. Call Viva Beverage Law today to see how we can help!
What Does A Liquor Compliance Lawyer Actually Do?
A liquor compliance lawyer helps businesses meet alcohol-related requirements at the local and state level. That includes filing applications, reviewing records, responding to agency requests, and preparing for hearings. In South Carolina, lawyers often work with bars, restaurants, breweries, and event spaces to avoid violations before they happen. Should an issue occur, our attorneys can help handle the problem by working with the correct authorities.
How Do We Stay Compliant With Our Liquor License?
Regular reviews of your license terms, business practices, and service records go a long way. It's also important to keep staff trained and aware of ID checks, service hours, and reporting requirements. A South Carolina liquor license compliance services lawyer can help you build a checklist based on your license type, location, and risk areas. Our team recommends consulting us if your business venue changes.
What Happens If We’re Cited For A Liquor License Violation?
If your business is cited for a violation, the state may schedule a hearing or request a written response. The violation might relate to serving underage customers, operating outside approved hours, or not keeping proper records. Legal help can be useful in reviewing the citation, preparing documents, and presenting your case. Our South Carolina liquor license compliance services lawyer can help you early on to prevent potential violations, including explaining the full extent of the state’s liquor laws. Our attorney brings over a decade of experience.
Can A Compliance Lawyer Help With More Than Just Violations?
Yes, compliance services cover much more than violation defense. Our client-centered legal team can assist with new applications, renewals, ownership changes, location moves, and labeling and advertising compliance. They also help review contracts, make zoning approvals smoother, and respond to state agency audits. Many businesses rely on these services regularly to keep everything on track, especially in busy seasons or after expansions.
Is It Worth Hiring A Lawyer Even If We’ve Had No Issues?
Yes, it can be. Many businesses use compliance services as a preventive measure. A South Carolina liquor license compliance services lawyer can help identify small issues before they turn into bigger problems. It's also helpful to have someone familiar with your license on hand in case something does come up. Reviewing your current setup with a legal professional once or twice a year can reduce risk and make future renewals more efficient.
Why Experience Matters For Liquor License Compliance
There may be times where you need to obtain, maintain, or defend licensing for your business. We can focus on the legal aspects while you spend time on other business related matters. When you hire our team for Liquor License Compliance, you are recruiting help from a legal team who:
- Are dedicated to seeing business owners be approved for and keep the licensing they require so their business can be successful.
- Has past clients that would say we are friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to be patient when answering their questions and offering clarification.
- Believe in being more than just lawyers, as we take pride as your partner towards keeping your business alive and thriving.
If you need help with Liquor License Compliance, contact our team today for more information! When you hire us at Viva Beverage Law, you are choosing a partner that genuinely cares about your business and protecting it from potential problems. Contact us now to reserve a consultation appointment! We are excited to get started.