D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 23, r. 23-712

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024
Rule 23-712 - PUB CRAWLS
712.1

A promoter/organizer ("Promoter/Organizer" or "Applicant") of a "pub crawl" shall be required to obtain a pub crawl license. The Promoter/Organizer shall submit an application for a pub crawl license that contains a Pub Crawl Event Form for each pub crawl event at least sixty (60) days prior to the applicant's first scheduled pub crawl event. The sixty (60)-day in advance filing requirement shall apply to all pub crawl applications filed after July 1, 2016.

712.2

A Promoter/Organizer shall obtain the Board's approval prior to hosting any pub crawl events not included in the Promoter/Organizer's pub crawl license application. The Promoter/Organizer shall submit a Pub Crawl Event Form to the Board for approval of any subsequent pub crawl event not listed on the Promoter/Organizer pub crawl license application at least sixty (60) days in advance of the event. The Board may conduct a hearing for purposes of considering the Promoter/Organizer's Pub Crawl Event Form submission.

712.3

For purposes of this section, a "pub crawl event" shall be defined as an organized group of establishments within walking distance which participate in the promotion of the event featuring the sale or service of alcoholic beverages during a specified time period.

712.4

The annual fee for a pub crawl license shall be five hundred dollars ($500). A pub crawl license shall remain in effect for three (3) years unless the license is suspended or revoked prior to its expiration.

712.5

No later than sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled date of the pub crawl event, the applicant must provide the Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Public Works, and the Board with a Pub Crawl Event Form which shall include the following information:

(a) The names and addresses of all licensed establishments which are expected to participate;
(b) The geographic area where the event will take place;
(c) The anticipated number and maximum number of participants;
(d) The actual hours of the event;
(e) The operational plan and security plan;
(f) The plan for litter prevention, control, and removal; and
(g) The location of the designated registration area(s).
712.6

The operational and security plan required by § 712.5(e) shall be posted at the designated registration area(s) and shall include, at a minimum:

(a) The name and number of security personnel contracted for the event;
(b) A plan for controlling underage drinking; and
(c) The method to be used for checking participants' identification.
712.7

The litter plan required by § 712.5(f) shall:

(a) Set a timeframe within which the litter removal vendor(s) will remove litter from the geographic area(s) in which the pub crawl occurred. The timeframe shall require that litter be removed by no later than 10 a.m. on the day after the pub crawl; and
(b) Include the following minimum requirements:
(1) Litter will be cleaned from both sides of the street of the entire block where an establishment participating in a pub crawl is located and on both sides of the street for all blocks between establishments;
(2) Litter will be removed from tree boxes and planters on both sides o the street for the entire length of the block;
(3) Litter removal shall include the cleaning of human waste (e.g., vomit);
(4) The litter removal company or companies shall not place trash and other debris in trash receptacles; and
(5) The litter removal company or companies shall comply with the District's solid waste and sanitation regulations located in chapters 7 and 8 of title 21 of the District of Columbia Regulations.
712.8

The Applicant shall submit a signed contract and proof of payment for litter removal services within seventy two (72) hours from the conclusion of the pub crawl event.

712.9

The litter plan shall be approved, in writing, by the District Department of Public Works (DPW) within ten (10) days of the Promoter/Organizer filing the litter plan with DPW.

712.10

The Promoter/Organizer or its designee(s) must remain at the pub crawl event to superintend for the duration of the event, and shall neither purchase nor consume alcoholic beverages during the event.

712.11

The Board shall approve the Applicant's list of participating licensed establishments for each pub crawl event. In doing so, the Board shall determine each listed licensed establishment's eligibility to participate in the pub crawl event in accordance with § 712.12 and 712.13.

712.12

No establishment with more than two (2) primary tier violations within two (2) years of the scheduled date of the event may participate in a pub crawl event.

712.13

No licensed establishment may participate in a pub crawl event if it is prohibited from participating by the terms of its Settlement Agreement or Board Order.

712.14

Pub crawl events may not promote excessive drinking and may not include unlimited amounts of drinks for one (1) price (i.e., "all you can drink " specials).

712.15

Literature describing "responsible drinking practices" shall be available at all pub crawl event designated registration area(s).

712.16

All advertising and promotional materials for pub crawl events shall:

(a) Include a statement that "You must be twenty-one (21) or older to participate";
(b) Promote the use of public transportation; and
(c) Include the plan for a designated driver program for the event.
712.17

Establishments that are required by law to serve food shall have food available for purchase during the hours of the pub crawl event.

712.18

The issuance of a pub crawl license shall be solely in the Board's discretion. The Board shall approve or deny a pub crawl application no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the pub crawl event.

712.19

The Board may place restrictions upon the hours, participating licensed establishments, and the number, nature or size of pub crawl events held under a pub crawl license in order to protect public safety.

712.20

The Board may also fine, suspend, or revoke the pub crawl license if the Promoter/Organizer:

(a) Fails to control the environment of a pub crawl;
(b) Has sustained community complaints or police action;
(c) Fails to comply with the terms of its pub crawl license or pub crawl application, including the litter plan and security and/operational plans; or
(d) Otherwise violates this Title or D.C. Official Code §§ 25-101, et seq.
712.21

Any enforcement action taken in accordance with § 712.20 shall be in accordance with D.C. Official Code §§ 25-441 through 25-447 and chapter 16 of this Title.

712.22

When reviewing an application for a pub crawl license, the Board may consider the Applicant's conduct and management of previous pub crawl events.

712.23

Licensed establishments shall not participate in an unlicensed pub crawl event. It shall be the licensed establishment's responsibility to verify whether the pub crawl event is licensed by the Board.

712.24

The Board may prohibit a licensed establishment that participated in an unlicensed pub crawl event or has sustained community complaints or police action from participating in future pub crawl events for up to a year from the date of the incident.

712.25

Licensed establishments shall post in a conspicuous place for the duration of the pub crawl event a copy of the pub crawl organizer's license for each pub crawl event in which they participate. The pub crawl license shall list the name and date of the pub crawl event and the name of the Promoter/Organizer.

712.26

A licensed establishment shall not be permitted to participate in more than one (1) pub crawl event at one time.

712.27

A pub crawl license is not required for a pub crawl containing fewer than two hundred (200) participants.

712.28

The Board shall not approve a pub crawl application for July 4, October 31, or December 31.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 23, r. 23-712

Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 4309 (April 30, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 12991 (December 26, 2008); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 1039 (2/3/2017); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 14482 (12/11/2020); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 7421 (7/30/2021)