by Marc Phillippe Babineau

Created on: January 05, 2009   Last Updated: January 09, 2009

There are many different liquor licensing issues in Illinois, affecting owners, servers, bartenders and hostesses alike. With varying ordinates, a smart investor would be wise to investigate all of the applicable liquor licensing laws for the area within which they want to invest in a new business. With shared liability, where you are as guilty as a partner in any illegal shenanigans, and any investor(s), interested in opening an establishment with a liquor license, should investigate all aspects of obtaining and keeping a liquor license before spending any money on permits, purchases, staff or construction.

There are many different issues in Illinois regarding liquor licensing application laws that vary from city to city, and town to town, including zoning ordinances and liquor licenses for new establishments. Liquor licensing issues in Illinois include different variances, such as in Oak Brook Village, Illinois, there can be no nudity of any sort within an establishment with a valid liquor license within preset distances of certain establishments, like schools, churches and playgrounds. There are very few gentlemen's clubs in Oak Brook Village.

Criminal records of any person included in the liquor license, or involved in the liquor serving process, would also warrant denial of licenses for the business venture. Failing to meet, or being found guilty of offending liquor license laws in Illinois can lead to permanent denial of liquor licenses, and that would be very bad for business.

In most cities within the State of Illinois, a liquor license can be withheld or revoked permanently when a heavy police presence is required on an ongoing basis at an establishment with a liquor license. Rowdy people can be fun, and they pack the joint, but they also bring about that unwanted police presence.

Offences for drugs, fighting, overcrowding, serving to minors or regularly allowing over-consumption, and even allowing obvious drunk drivers to drive away can cause the establishment to lose it's liquor license, most often permanently. And all laws pertain to employees of the establishment as well, making the bar-employee hiring process all the more likely to be more stringent than for most States.

Chicago, Illinois, that old bustling town known as much for the Al Capone days as for the Blues, has very strict and exacting restrictions on who may obtain and hold a liquor license for any establishment; bars, restaurants or show venues (music and dance bars, etc.) included. Any

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