ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
State and local laws regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages. The City of Newport is responsible for the process of acquiring both liquor-by-the-drink and package store licenses for businesses located within the city limits.
Beer Permit
To apply for a beer permit, a $250.00 non-refundable fee must be accompanied with the application. To apply for a temporary permit, (to allow the continued sale of alcoholic beverages at a location which presently has a valid permit for no more than 40 days), a non-refundable fee of $50.00 with the application. For a special event permit there is a $250.00 non-refundable fee for one day and a $500.00 non-refundable fee for three days. The Beer Board meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Newport City Hall located 300 East Main Street, Newport, Tennessee. Completed applications with all the information are due by the 15th of the month to be considered for the following month’s Beer Board agenda. The Beer Board has requested that each applicant have a representative (owner/manager) present at the meeting to answer any questions they may have. The application documents and requirements are available on the city’s website or at the city hall.
Liquor by the Drink
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) authorizes liquor-by-the-drink licenses for both liquor and wine sales in a restaurant and/or bar. Local businesses will pay a local privilege tax to the City of Newport in addition to the fee for ABC license. After securing a liquor-by-the-drink permit with ABC, it is your responsibility to bring the permit and the receipt within five (5) business days to the Newport City Hall 300 East Main Street, Newport, TN 37821 to pay the local privilege tax. The privilege tax will be the same amount as the ABC fee and is due annually to the City of Newport. There will be an annual invoice sent to businesses that obtain a liquor-by-the-drink license from the City of Newport. If the business changes ownership both ABC and this office must be notified.
There are no applicable forms or a licensing process requiring local approval. Local licenses are issued only after ABC has issued a license.
Retail Food Store Wine License Certificate of Compliance
Retail food stores must apply to the City of Newport for a Certificate of Compliance before applying for a Retail Food Store Wine License issued by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). There is a non-refundable application fee in the amount of $250.00 and a background check fee of $29.00 for each owner to be payable to the City of Newport. The application documents and requirements are available on the city’s website or at the city hall.
Package Stores
The City of Newport only allows three (3) package stores in the city limits on the sound discretion of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Package store owners must apply to the City of Newport for a Certificate of Compliance before going before the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). There is a non-refundable application fee in the amount of $500.00 and a background check fee of $29.00 for each owner to be payable to the City of Newport. The application documents and requirements are available on the city’s website or at the city hall.
