Alaska State Fair could lose its liquor license as alcohol board discusses holding it 'hostage'

JUNEAU — State alcohol regulators are poised to reject a liquor license renewal for the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. The nonprofit that operates the fair warned that the loss of the license would be “devastating” and could lead to increased ticket prices for the popular annual event.

The recommendation by regulatory staff to deny the renewal is part of a crackdown on certain longtime licenses that do not appear to be used as intended under state law. Fair board president Stephen Brown said that if the fair lost its ability to sell beer and wine, it would have to “greatly increase” admission prices.

The fair’s alcohol troubles come as the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board struggles to make state law match the hodgepodge nature of alcohol-serving events across the state. In 2014 and again in 2017, the board was faulted by legislative auditors for issuing “recreational site” alcohol licenses to events like the fair that are not allowed under state law.

Under that law, beer and wine can be served at licensed locations that host “baseball games, car races, hockey games, dog sled racing events, or curling matches." The board previously stretched that definition to include things such as ski areas. In this case, the state fair has had a recreational site license in 1981.

Rea moe: https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2018/12/18/alaska-state-fair-could-lose-its-liquor-license-as-alcohol-board-discusses-holding-it-hostage/