Loudoun is considering allowing alcohol to be served at libraries and two public park facilities for special events and fundraisers.
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in parks, recreation areas or community centers in the county. One recommendation would allow a one-year trial period for limited alcohol use at the Franklin Park Visual and Performing Arts Center and the Heritage Farm Museum. Another would endorse the Library Board of Trustees’ decision to serve beer and wine at select events.
For the center and museum, alcohol would be allowed at rentals of the two facilities at evening and some afternoon events from Sept. 15 to March 15.
Proponents of the change say the move would bring in additional revenue for the county, as people would be more likely to attend events where alcohol was served.
“This opportunity will help build our sales on the short term and continue to raise the reputation and exposure of Loudoun wines in the future,” wrote Doug Fabbioli, owner of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg. “[It] would be open to any Loudoun winery and will further help the wineries, the tourism industry and the rural economy.”
But Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio, R-Sterling, was worried about liability issues for the county.
“The best fundraisers do have alcohol, it’s true, but you don’t have to have them in the library,” he said.
County staff has acknowledged the likely increase in liability. In the case of the parks, Loudoun would require third-party proof of insurance with the county included as an additional insured party on the policy. There would be the same requirement for events held at libraries not hosted by the Library Board of Trustees.
The town of Herndon, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Authority all allow alcohol to be served in certain circumstances through an application process.
The Prince William County Library System and the Howard County Library System sponsor fundraising events that serve beer and wine. In these jurisdictions, certified and permitted catering staff serve the alcohol, which would also be the case for the Loudoun Library system, according to county documents.
