The sale of beer or intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises is subject to the following restrictions, in addition to those imposed by the rules and orders of the division of liquor control:

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, beer or intoxicating liquor may be served to a person not seated at a table unless there is reason to believe that the beer or intoxicating liquor so served will be consumed by a person under twenty-one years of age.

(B) Beer or intoxicating liquor may be served by a hotel in the room of a bona fide guest, and may be sold by a hotel holding a D-5a permit, or a hotel holding a D-3 or D-5 permit that otherwise meets all of the requirements for holding a D-5a permit, by means of a controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet that shall be located only in the hotel room of a registered guest. A hotel may sell beer or intoxicating liquor as authorized by its permit to a registered guest by means of a controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet in accordance with the following requirements:

(1) Only a person twenty-one years of age or older who is a guest registered to stay in a guestroom shall be provided a key, magnetic card, or other similar device necessary to obtain access to the contents of a controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet in that guestroom.

(2) The hotel shall comply with section 4301.22 of the Revised Code in connection with the handling, restocking, and replenishing of the beer and intoxicating liquor in the controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet.

(3) The hotel shall replenish or restock beer and intoxicating liquor in any controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet only during the hours during which the hotel may serve or sell beer and intoxicating liquor.

(4) The registered guest shall verify in writing that the guest has read and understands the language that shall be posted on the controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet as required by division (B)(5) of this section.

(5) A hotel authorized to sell beer and intoxicating liquor pursuant to division (B) of this section shall post on the controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet, in conspicuous language, the following notice:

"The alcoholic beverages contained in this cabinet shall not be removed from the premises."

(6) The hotel shall maintain a record of each sale of beer or intoxicating liquor made by the hotel by means of a controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet for any period in which the permit holder is authorized to hold the permit pursuant to sections 4303.26 and 4303.27 of the Revised Code and any additional period during which an applicant exercises its right to appeal a rejection by the department or division of liquor control to renew a permit pursuant to section 4303.271 of the Revised Code. The records maintained by the hotel shall comply with both of the following:

(a) Include the name, address, age, and signature of each hotel guest who is provided access by the hotel to a controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section;

(b) Be made available during business hours to authorized agents of the division of liquor control pursuant to division (A)(6) of section 4301.10 of the Revised Code or to enforcement agents of the department of public safety pursuant to sections 5502.13 to 5502.19 of the Revised Code.

(7) The hotel shall observe all other applicable rules adopted by the division of liquor control and the liquor control commission.

(C) Neither the seller nor the liquor control commission by its regulations shall require the purchase of food with the purchase of beer or intoxicating liquor; nor shall the seller of beer or intoxicating liquor give away food of any kind in connection with the sale of beer or intoxicating liquor, except as authorized by rule of the liquor control commission.

(D) Except as provided in division (B)(8) of section 4301.62 of the Revised Code, the seller shall not permit the purchaser to remove beer or intoxicating liquor so sold from the premises.

(E) A hotel authorized to sell beer and intoxicating liquor pursuant to division (B) of this section shall provide a registered guest with the opportunity to refuse to accept a key, magnetic card, or other similar device necessary to obtain access to the contents of a controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet in that guest room. If a registered guest refuses to accept such key, magnetic card, or other similar device, the hotel shall not assess any charges on the registered guest for use of the controlled access alcohol and beverage cabinet in that guest room.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 37, §1, eff. 8/31/2016.

Effective Date: 06-30-1999 .