Fenty Administration Upholds Voluntary Agreements for Nightlife Establishments During the Inauguration

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced today that he has signed the Inaugural Celebration Extension of Hours Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2008, passed by the DC Council on December 16, 2008. The bill authorizes establishments with on-premises retailer’s licenses to sell or serve alcoholic beverages until 4 am and to operate 24 hours a day. These establishments must pre-register with Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in order to serve alcoholic beverages until 4 am during the five-day period from January 17, 2009 through January 21, 2009. On-premises retailers, which are establishments that serve alcoholic beverages that are consumed on site include: restaurants, taverns, hotels, multi-purpose facilities and nightclubs.

The bill does not apply to retailers that only sell alcoholic beverages for consumption elsewhere such as grocery stores and liquor stores. These retailers will continue their current operating hours and practices.  

The bill will not affect the enforceability of contractual voluntary agreements which many on-premises retailers have entered into with the community and which have been endorsed by the Board. Voluntary agreements, which have long been recognized by District law, set forth the terms and conditions under which a licensee is permitted to operate, including the hours of permitted sale of alcohol. Almost all such voluntary agreements preclude the sale of alcohol after 2 am on weekdays and 3 am on weekends.

Currently, there are 345 on-premises retailers who have entered into voluntary agreements in the District: 233 restaurants, 72 taverns, 25 nightclubs, nine multipurpose facilities and six hotels.

“It is important to honor the agreements that residents in the District have made with on-premises establishments,” said Mayor Fenty. “I commend the work of the Attorney General and the ABRA board for working together to ensure that the best interests of the community are upheld.”

• Read the list of establishments that have signed voluntary agreements*


• Extension of Hours Registration Form for establishments that have not signed voluntary agreements*