Cheers! White Claw now legal for large parties on public property
Ordinance adopted to permit ready-to-drink beverages for events
jack@claytodayonline.com
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – With the Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games & Festival and Clay County Agricultural Fair just around the corner, the Board of County Commissioners decided to raise …
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Cheers! White Claw now legal for large parties on public property
Ordinance adopted to permit ready-to-drink beverages for events
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – With the Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games & Festival and Clay County Agricultural Fair just around the corner, the Board of County Commissioners decided to raise their glasses – figuratively.
In a 5-0 vote, the BCC officially adopted a resolution that would amend a county-wide ordinance to permit “ready-to-drink” beverages for large events on county-owned property.
Previously, the ordinance only permitted beer and wine to be sold or consumed for public or private events with 500 or more in attendance. While liquor is still prohibited, the resolution now allows Clay County festival-goes to buy hard seltzers and pack other ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages in their coolers.
Some famous picks are White Claw, Truly, Vizzy, High Noon and Happy Dad. One infamous pick is Four Loko, which now no longer contains caffeine or taurine.
Ready-to-drink beverages have equivalent or sometimes less alcohol by volume, said County Attorney Courtney Grimm during the meeting. She informed the BCC that upcoming events in the county have expressed interest in providing them and allowing them to be served. She said these beverages would have a positive economic effect on businesses at the fairgrounds.
Commissioner Betsy Condon found no issue with adding ready-to-drink beverages to the existing ordinance, considering the similar alcoholic content.
“I guess it’s become trendy. To my understanding, the most popular brand of this is ‘White Claw’… I don’t know what it is. I don’t need to know what it is, but like I said, it fits within our ordinance.”
“(At events) we get more problems with heat exhaustion than the actual alcohol,” said Vice-Chair Mike Cella.
“(These beverages) are already sold at the counter at convenience stores. They come in cans – not that I’ve tested it – but I did look at the ingredients, and they do have a lesser percentage of alcohol than some wines actually.”
Cella acknowledged the potential positive impact of ready-to-drink beverages, especially for nonprofits hosting fundraising events.
The BCC meets at 4 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at the County Administration Building, 477 Houston St. in Green Cove Springs.
Clay Today wants to remind you to please drink responsibly.
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