Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 4, Alcoholic Beverages, Article I. In General, Section 4-1. Definitions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. (CEDC 9/10/25)
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Key Issues:
Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee’s Summit regulates the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within the City of Lee’s Summit.
Section 4-1 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee’s Summit contains language that defines Amusement Places as establishments where games of skill are usually played and at least fifty (50) percent of the gross sales from the business consist of goods, merchandise or commodities other than the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Sec. 4-17 D. of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee’s Summit prohibits minors from entering establishments that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages by the drink with few exceptions. One exception is for Amusement Places as defined in Sec. 4-1.
A local movie theater has requested to sell alcoholic beverages as they do in other municipalities while also allowing minors under 21 to enter their premises. However, the movie theaters do not meet the sales model required to be classified as either a Restaurant/Bar or an Amusement Place. Therefore, movie theaters cannot get a license to serve alcoholic beverages in the City of Lee’s Summit while still allowing minors under 21 to enter their premises under current City Ordinances.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety Division of Alcohol Tobacco Control does not prohibit movie theaters from distributing alcoholic beverages nor do they prohibit minors from entering the premises of a movie theater that sells alcoholic beverages.
No other local municipality has prohibitions against movie theaters obtaining liquor licenses or allowing minors under 21 to enter the premises of said movie theaters.
Staff recommends that the ordinance be revised to include movie theaters that show motion pictures under a film studio licensing a...
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