2023 Tennessee Code › Title 57 - INTOXICATING LIQUORS (§§ 57-1-101 — 57-10-102) › Chapter 3 - LOCAL OPTION-TRAFFIC IN INTOXICATING LIQUORS (§§ 57-3-101 — 57-3-1103) › Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 57-3-101 — 57-3-112) › Section 57-3-104 - Enforcement and administration by commission - Licensing procedures

(a)
The commission shall have the authority, by and with the consent of the governor, to employ such attorneys, inspectors, agents, officers and clerical assistance as may be necessary for the effective administration and enforcement of this chapter. The compensation of such personnel shall be approved by the governor.
(b)
The commission shall enforce and administer this chapter and the rules and regulations made by it.
(c)
The commission shall have and exercise the following functions, duties and powers:
(1)
Issue all licenses in respect to, or for the manufacture, importation, bottling, keeping, giving away, furnishing, possession, transportation, sale, and delivery of alcoholic beverages, and to revoke any license whatsoever, the issuance of which is authorized by this chapter;
(A)
Any revocation of any license shall be made by the commission only on account of the violation of, or refusal to comply with, any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the commission, after not less than ten (10) days' notice to the holder of the license proposed to be revoked, informing such licensee of the time and place of the hearing to be held in respect thereto, and all further procedure with reference to the revocation of any license shall be fixed and prescribed in the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the commission, which may be repealed or amended from time to time;
(B)
No person has a property right in any license issued hereunder, nor shall the license itself, or the enjoyment thereof, be considered a property right;
(C)
The commission shall hold a hearing to determine whether such license shall be revoked, which hearing shall be held with the same notice and in the same manner as all other hearings provided for under this chapter, whenever:
(i)
Any county mayor, if a license has been issued outside the corporate limits of the municipality and outside a civil district meeting the requirements set out in §
57-3-205
;
(ii)
A majority of a three-member commission which has been set up as provided in §
57-3-108
, if a license has been issued within a civil district meeting the requirements set out in §
57-3-205
; or
(iii)
The mayor or majority of the commission, city council or legislative council of a municipality within which a license has been issued
certifies that any licensee has habitually violated this chapter, or any regulation adopted by the county legislative bodies, three-member commissions, or legislative councils, relative to the conduct and operation of the business provided for in this chapter;
(2)
Refuse to issue a license or permit if, upon investigation, the commission finds that the applicant for a license or permit has concealed or misrepresented in writing or otherwise any material fact or circumstance concerning the operation of the business or employment, or if the interest of the applicant in the operation of the business or employment is not truly stated in the application, or in case of any fraud or false swearing by the applicant touching any matter relating to the operation of the business or employment. If a license or permit has been issued, the commission shall issue a citation to the licensee or permittee to show cause why the license or permit should not be suspended or revoked. All data, written statements, affidavits, evidence or other documents submitted in support of an application are a part of the application;
(3)
Summon any applicant for a license or permit and also to summon and examine witnesses, and to administer oaths to such applicants and witnesses in making any investigation in regard thereto;
(4)
Make, promulgate, alter, amend, or repeal rules and regulations for the enforcement of this chapter or the collections of all license fees and taxes, and all penalties and forfeitures relating thereto, except that the alcoholic beverage tax authorized to be collected by §§
57-3-302
and
57-3-303
shall be collected by the commissioner of revenue;
(5)
Prescribe all forms of application and licenses and tax stamps, and of all reports and all other papers and documents required to be used under or in the enforcement of this chapter, except that the alcoholic beverage tax authorized to be collected by §§
57-3-302
and
57-3-303
shall be collected by the commissioner of revenue;
(6)
Prevent parts of the premises connected with or in any sense used in connection with the premises, whereon the possession, transportation, delivery, receipt, sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages may be lawful, from being used as a subterfuge, or means of evading the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the commission;
(7)
Conform to, adopt, or coordinate, to the extent that the commission may deem proper, the practices, methods, standards, rules, and regulations governing traffic in alcoholic beverages, and in alcohol, with the rules, practices, standards, and regulations established by the government of the United States, or any officer, bureau or agency thereof;
(8)
Require, on licensed premises, the destruction or removal of any and all bottles, whether empty or otherwise, cases, containers, apparatus, or devices, used or likely to be used, designed or intended or employed in evading, violating or preventing the enforcement of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the commission;
(9)
Regulate the advertising, signs and displays, posters or designs intended to advertise any alcoholic beverage or the place where the same is sold; and
(10)
Refuse to issue or renew a license or permit, or issue a citation in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per violation if, upon investigation, the commission finds that the applicant for a license or permit has not demonstrated the financial capacity to operate the business in a manner consistent with the regulations of the commission or is not generally paying its debts as they come due except for debts as to which there is a bona fide dispute.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 147, s 2, eff. 4/17/2017.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1015,s 6, eff. 4/16/2014.
Acts 1939, ch. 49, § 4; 1945, ch. 167, § 1; 1947, ch. 73, § 2; 1949, ch. 284, § 2; C. Supp. 1950, § 6648.7; Acts 1951, ch. 52, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1963, ch. 257, §§ 11, 33; impl. am. Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 7, 16, 36; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 57-109; Acts 1981, ch. 474, § 2.