The Sandy Springs City Council has clarified the ability of entities whose “primary business” is art, sewing, embroidery or cooking instruction to let patrons bring beer and wine to classes. It also has reduced the fees the shops would pay to allow alcohol on the premises.
Under a “brown bag” or “BYOB” resolution recently approved 4-2 by the Council, customers can bring one unopened bottle of wine or up to two unopened 16-ounce containers of beer or the equivalent.
The Council also amended city ordinances on a 4-2 vote to allow for lower fees than those charged of restaurants and taverns. The studios would pay a $150 application fee, $125 license fee and $125 advertising fee for a first-time applicant; a $125 license fee for a renewal; and $40 per person for background checks of the owner and manager.
Council Members Tibby DeJulio and Chris Burnett voted against the proposals, saying they could leave the city open to creative interpretations of the law. The Council asked the city attorney to return with suggestions to tighten the language of the measures.
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