D.C. board may extend eligible venues’ alcohol hours for certain events

The D.C. alcohol board may extend eligible venues’ hours for selling, serving, and drinking alcohol to 4 a.m. and operating to 24 hours a day. Eligible venues include on-site alcohol retailers, alcohol makers with a permit for on-site sales and drinking, and temporary license holders. Events must showcase cultural traditions; feature sports competitions held once a year or every four years by a league or association; or have the potential to draw visitors from more than 50 miles away and be likely to give D.C. a significant financial boost. Venues must register with the board and pay a registration fee of at least $100. A separate D.C. alcohol law takes priority where it applies. Venues must give the board written notice at least three calendar days before the event’s first day.

The board must tell D.C. police about extended hours and, when feasible, publish public notice. The police notice lists venues eligible to use extended hours for qualifying events. The public notice covers the extended hours. Police must get notice at least 48 hours before extended hours take effect. The board must post the public notice on its website within 24 hours after it appears in the D.C. Register.