There are four different types of bar styles you can have at your permit premises:
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Consumer Bar: Think of your traditional bar experience. The consumer can sit or stand at the bar and order, pay for, and receive their alcoholic beverage. The consumer can also drink their alcoholic beverage while seated at or standing by the bar.
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Service Bar: This kind of bar is for waitstaff only. It allows the preparation of alcoholic beverages for waitstaff to bring to consumers at tables. A consumer cannot order or receive an alcoholic beverage at a service bar. You cannot have seats or stools at a service bar. If seats are available, it will be presumed that it is, in fact, a consumer bar.
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Consumer Service Bar: Think of a cafeteria service line. The consumer can order, pay for, and receive their alcoholic beverage (like a consumer bar), but cannot sit at the bar or drink their alcoholic beverage while standing nearby (like a service bar).
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No Bar: There is no bar at all within the premises. Alcohol is stored in refrigerators or areas where only staff can access it and there is no physical bar to prepare beverages.
Every permit premises comes with one consumer bar included in the permit cost. If you would like more than one consumer bar, then you must file an application for additional bars and have your permit endorsed with the number of additional consumer bars you need. Each additional consumer bar costs $190. You must also file the application if you want a consumer bar for a limited time – for example, a few months or even just a one night event.
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Example: A premises wants two bars where patrons can sit and order beverages. One is located inside the premises and one is permanently stationed on its patio from spring through fall. This means the premises has two consumer bars, and the permittee needs an endorsement for the extra consumer bar (and patio.)
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Example: A premises has a service bar in its main restaurant and a consumer bar located in its banquet room. The permittee does not need an endorsement because the endorsement is only required when a premises has more than one consumer bar. Here, only one consumer bar is on the premises because the second bar is a service bar. The permittee should still tell Liquor Control so we can note that the premises is correctly operating with the two bar styles.
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Example: A premises has a consumer bar located in its main dining room. It is a special town event, and the premises has permission to serve alcohol in the parking lot as part of the event for two nights. The premises wants to set up a temporary consumer bar in the parking lot. It must file for an endorsement for an extra consumer bar, even though it is temporary (and temporary extension of use - it is the same application!)
Once you receive approval for an additional consumer bar, you will have to pay $190 every year you renew your permit to keep that extra bar. Let Liquor Control know if you get rid of the extra bar. The fees for the extra consumer bar are not pro-rated at all.
Please contact DCP.LiquorControl@ct.gov with questions.