Mardi Gras Compliance Notice: Bars, Restaurants & Other Alcohol Businesses

The first weekend of Mardi Gras yielded reports that the City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control (ATC), were active throughout the Metro area. To avoid citations, fines and possible license suspension, please review the following checklist to ensure compliance. Be sure to review with your staff the alcohol rules and regulations of which they are subject. 

• Most important in Orleans Parish is that someone who holds a valid “Manager Permit” issued by the City of New Orleans must be on the premises during ALL hours of operation.
• This is the first item the City of New Orleans enforcement officials will verify if they visit your business.
• The person holding the "Manager's Permit" MUST remain on the premises at all times. (They can't leave to run and errand, run to the store for a minute, go next door, etc. They have to be on the premises. Owners, officers, etc. of a business are not required to hold a "Manager's Permit.")
• If an owner, officer, etc. is on the premises, then the presence of a person holding a "Manager's Permit" is not required.
• Employees can apply for a Manager's Permit with the City of New Orleans using the following link HERE
• Use the "Short Form." Complete the one-page Short Form, sign and have notarized. Once complete, signed and notarized, EMAIL the application with a COLOR COPY of the manager's driver's license or other government-issued identification and a copy of the manager's state Responsible Vendor Permit to: abo@nola.gov.
• Once processed and entered into the city's online system, the city will send the manager an email with instructions to pay the $105 permit fee. If you have yet to do this, please process your application ASAP. In anticipation of the city not being able to process some applications, please instruct your managers to keep copies of emails and receipts as proof that the application was submitted and payment was remitted.

 

• Make sure ALL of your employees are Responsible Vendor Certified or have a “bar card.” The LRA ServSafe Alcohol Online is available 24/7 for $9.95. Click here for ServSafe Alcohol.
• You are required to maintain Responsible Vendor Training records for all employees. We recommend you keep copies of each employee's RVP permit on file at your business location. Copies stored in one place and easily accessible for inspection by enforcement officials should they visit your business.

 

• You are required to provide enforcement officials with copies of alcohol purchase invoices for inspection. Keep invoices in an easily accessible location should an enforcement official request to inspect.
  
• Ensure all of alcohol, tax and occupancy permits & licenses are publicly posted.
• Underage sale of alcohol will be STRICTLY enforced. If your staff has a doubt, verify with their drivers license, government issued or military ID, or the LA WALLET app.
• Questions? Email communications@lra.org.

Thank you and have a safe Mardi Gras!