Opinion ID: 1995928
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Liquor Nuisance Charge.

Text: Section 123.60 defines nuisance as: The premises where the unlawful manufacture or sale, or keeping with intent to sell, use or give away, of alcoholic liquors, wine, or beer is carried on, and any vehicle or other means of conveyance used in transporting liquor, wine, or beer in violation of law, and the furniture, fixtures, vessels and contents, kept or used in connection with such activities are nuisances and shall be abated as provided in this chapter. The gist of the nuisance offense is the sale or keeping with intent to sell, use or give away the beer. The State contends the beer was kept with the intent to sell it, or as an alternative argument, it was kept on the premises with the intent to give it away. A. The evidence of sale. The State introduced evidence that RAGBRAI riders were observed receiving beer and placing money in the tip jar, but taking this evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, it does not establish more than what the defendant concedesbeer was dispensed and money was placed in the tip jars. While one could assume that a tip was required, making the transaction a sale, there was no evidence to support this assumption. Witnesses for the State testified that all of the people they observed drinking beer in or around the tent put money in the tip jar. However, there was no evidence to show they were required to do so. The State did not present any evidence through controlled buys by law enforcement personnel, any of the beer-tent patrons, or any other witnesses that this was the fact. We believe the record simply does not support a finding that beer was sold. B. The gift alternative. The State argues that the statute also prohibits the keeping of beer with intent to give [it] away. While on its face the statute appears to cover any case in which a defendant gives beer away or keeps it with the intent to give it away, the statute cannot reasonably be interpreted in such a broad manner. To do so would criminalize a social host's possession of beer with the intent to serve it to guests. We believe the giving away language of section 123.60 must be given a reasonable reading and must be limited to those cases in which the gift itself is illegalsuch as giving beer to a minor or to an intoxicated person. Merely keeping beer with intent to give it away does not constitute a liquor nuisance. The charge of maintaining a liquor nuisance, therefore, cannot be sustained under either the sale or gift alternative.