Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 560-2-2-.02 — Licensing Qualifications

(1) No Person shall manufacture, distribute, sell, handle, possess for sale, or otherwise deal in Alcoholic Beverages or non-beverage Alcohol without first obtaining all applicable licenses required by the Act and these regulations. (2) Every Person applying for a state license, permit, or registration to deal in Alcoholic Beverages shall make application on forms through the Georgia Tax Center, accessible through the Department's website, or in any other manner prescribed by the Commissioner, and under oath shall answer all questions, supply all information and statements (including information regarding applicant's employees and all Persons with a beneficial interest in the applicant), furnish all certificates, affidavits, bonds and other supporting data or documents as reasonably required by the Commissioner. (a) All license applications under these regulations shall be a permanent record. (b) Willful failure to furnish the Department with any of the information required by these regulations or by law shall constitute grounds for denial or revocation of a license. (3) Applications for a state license, permit, or registration shall state the identical name and address of the applicant as stated in the application for a license required by local governing authorities. (a) Every license shall specify the premises where the Licensee shall have its Place of Business and such location shall not be changed during the term of the license. (b) Any Fraternal Organization shall be permitted to apply for a license in the name of any qualified officer or member of such organization. (c) Any legal entity, including but not limited to, all partnerships, limited liability companies, domestic or foreign corporations, lawfully registered and doing business under the laws of Georgia or the laws of another state and authorized by the Secretary of State to do business in Georgia which seeks to obtain an Alcoholic Beverage or non-beverage Alcohol license may be permitted to apply for a license in the name of the legal entity as it is registered in the Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however: 1. In its application for an Alcoholic Beverage or non-beverage Alcohol license, the legal entity shall provide the Commissioner with the name and address of its agent authorized to receive service of process under the laws of Georgia, together with a listing of its current officers and their respective addresses. 2. Any change in the status of the Licensee's registered agent, including but not limited to, change of address, or name, shall be reported to the Commissioner within five (5) days of such occurrence. 3. In the event that a legal entity fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in Georgia as required by law, or whenever its registered agent cannot with due diligence be found at the registered office of the corporation as designated in its application for license, the Commissioner shall be appointed agent to receive any citation for violation of these regulations. 4. Process may be served upon the Commissioner by leaving with the Commissioner duplicate copies of such citations. 5. In the event that the notice of citation is served upon the Commissioner or one of the Commissioner's designated agents, the Commissioner shall immediately forward one of the copies to the corporation at its registered office. 6. Any service made upon the Commissioner shall be answerable within thirty (30) days. 7. The Commissioner shall keep a record of all citations served upon the Commissioner under this Regulation, and shall record the time of service and the disposition of that service. (4) The state license issued shall be valid for the calendar year indicated; provided that: (a) The Licensee is actively engaged in business; and (b) If applicable, has a valid county or municipal license. (5) In the event a Licensee ceases to be actively engaged in business, or if a Licensee's local license becomes invalid in any way, the state license shall be invalid and the Licensee of that business shall immediately notify and return the state license to the Department. (a) Any license issued to a Retailer after November 1, 2023 by a local licensing jurisdiction that does not conform with the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 3-2-7.1 shall be deemed an invalid license until the local licensing jurisdiction satisfies the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 3-2-7.1 and, until such requirements are met, no state license shall be issued to any such Retailer. (6) No alcohol license application will be granted where it would violate any Department regulations or other laws of the State of Georgia. (7) A Licensee that desires to continue in business during the next calendar year must make a new application for that year on or before November 1 of the preceding year. (8) Any untrue, misleading, or omitted statement or information contained in an application shall be cause for denial and, if any license has been granted, shall be cause for its revocation. (9) The failure of any applicant, or failure of any Person, firm, corporation, legal entity, or organization having any interest in any operation for which an application has been submitted, to meet any obligations imposed by the tax laws or other law or regulation of Georgia shall be grounds for denial of the license, permit or registration for which an application is made. (10) To protect the public interest or welfare, no license to sell Alcoholic Beverages of any kind shall be issued by the Commissioner to: (a) Any person as determined by the Commissioner, who, by reason of that person's business experience, financial standing, trade associations, personal associations, records of arrests, or reputation in any community in which the person has resided, is not likely to maintain the operation for which the person is seeking a license in conformity with federal, state or local laws; (b) Any person convicted of a felony who served any part of a criminal sentence, including probation, within the ten (10) years immediately preceding the date of receipt of submission of the application; or (c) Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor who served any part of a criminal sentence, including probation, within the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of receipt of submission of the application. (11) The Commissioner may decline to issue a state license to a person for the operation of a Place of Business when any person having any interest in the operation of that Place of Business or control over such Place of Business does not meet the same requirements as set forth in these regulations for the Licensee. (12) If the Commissioner has reason to believe that the applicant is not entitled to the license for which the applicant has applied, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant in writing. (a) The applicant shall have fifteen (15) days from the date of the notice to request, in writing, a hearing on the application. (b) Upon receipt of applicant's written request, the Commissioner shall provide the applicant with due notice and opportunity for a hearing on the application pursuant to Subject 560-2-16. (c) If the Commissioner, after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing, finds the applicant is not entitled to a license, the applicant shall be advised in writing of the findings upon which that denial is based. (13) In order to ensure correspondence is timely received, any change to an applicant's or licensee's contact information including, but not limited to, a change of mailing address, email address, or telephone number, shall be updated via the Georgia Tax Center, or in any other manner prescribed by the Commissioner, within five (5) days of such change. Cite as Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 560-2-2-.02 Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 3-2-2 , 3-2-3 , 3-2-7.1 , 48-2-12 . History. Original Rule entitled "License Application" adopted. F. and eff. June 30, 1965. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Oct. 23, 1969; eff. Nov. 1, 1969, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Financial Transactions" adopted. F. May 5, 1982; eff. May 25, 1982. Repealed: F. Sept. 6, 2006; eff. Sept. 26, 2006. Amended: New Rule entitled "Licensing Qualifications" adopted. F. Oct. 1, 2010; eff. Oct. 21, 2010. Amended: F. Oct. 5, 2023; eff. Oct. 25, 2023. Amended: F. Jan. 19, 2024; eff. Feb. 8, 2024.