Opinion ID: 76031
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Rational Basis Test

Text: 13 The rational basis test 10 requires that an ordinance ... be rationally related to the achievement of a legitimate government purpose. Id. Under this test, a court gives great deference to economic and social legislation. Curse v. Dir., Office of Workers' Comp. Programs, 843 F.2d 456, 463 (11th Cir.1988); Alamo Rent-A-Car, Inc. v. Sarasota-Manatee Airport Auth., 825 F.2d 367, 370 (11th Cir.1987) ([G]overnmental bodies [have] wide latitude in enacting social and economic legislation; the federal courts do not sit as arbiters of the wisdom or utility of these laws.). The general rule is that legislation is presumed to be valid and will be sustained if the classification drawn by the statute is rationally related to a legitimate state interest. City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 440, 105 S.Ct. 3249, 87 L.Ed.2d 313 (1985). Thus, a court will not overturn the legislation `unless the varying treatment of different ... persons is so unrelated to the achievement of any combination of legitimate purposes that we can only conclude that the legislature's actions were irrational.' Price v. Tanner, 855 F.2d 820, 823 (11th Cir.1988) (quoting Vance v. Bradley, 440 U.S. 93, 97, 99 S.Ct. 939, 59 L.Ed.2d 171 (1979)). Moreover, the rational relationship between the means adopted and the legislation's purpose must be at least debatable. United States v. Carolene Prods. Co., 304 U.S. 144, 154, 58 S.Ct. 778, 82 L.Ed. 1234 (1938). 14 Under this highly deferential standard, we conclude that Ordinance 45-99 satisfies the rational basis test. The effect of the ordinance is to prohibit all persons under the age of twenty-one from entering establishments that primarily serve alcohol for consumption on the premises, but do not serve a specified quantity of food. Ostensibly, the City enacted the ordinance to curb underage drinking. 11 The City apparently believed that the risk of underage drinking would be greater in establishments that primarily serve alcohol than in establishments that primarily serve food. Thus, the City structured the ordinance to concentrate on establishments that primarily serve alcohol. We find that the rational relationship between the City's purpose and the means adopted is at least debatable. Id. Accordingly, the ordinance does not violate the Equal Protection Clause. 12