Knoxville Beer Board Meeting - January 20, 2026

The Knoxville Beer Board convened on January 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM. All eight members were present. The meeting addressed routine business, including the approval of minutes, reports from officers, postponements, and several new beer permit applications. A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to a discussion about compliance with the annual alcohol awareness safety class (TASC) and potential policy changes.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved as distributed without correction.
• Postponements: By unanimous consent, the following items were postponed to February 17, 2026: Items 6A, 6B, 8B, and 8E, 8F, 8G, and 8H (Yeehaw Brewing).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak.

Reports of Officers

• Officer Presley: Reported no enforcement activity for the month.
• Mr. Johnson (Clerk of the Beer Board): Presented a written report on active suspension/revocation hearings. Cases involving Weiggles, Red Lobster, and Buckethead Tavern have been resolved via agreed orders with fines paid. Dayar Markets has an agreed order but has not yet paid the fine. The report also detailed the beer fund status: revenues have exceeded budget, and the primary expenses include payments to private attorneys and a $75,000 contract with the Metro Drug Coalition for alcohol education in schools. The current fund balance is $264,000.

Discussion Items

• Upcoming Compliance Enforcement: Mr. Frost, board attorney, informed the board that a new agenda item will appear in February 2026 for businesses that are out of compliance with the annual TASC class requirement. A warning letter was sent in December 2025 to the most delinquent businesses. Some have already come into compliance, and others have until the Thursday before the next meeting to take the class. Mr. Johnson noted that the compliance audit was conducted by the internal auditor and the audit committee.
• Potential Policy Change: Councilwoman Parker raised the possibility of the board reconsidering the policy regarding the annual TASC class, noting that the class may be repetitive and that the board could evaluate the outcome of the current enforcement effort before making changes.
• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Chair Helsley asked whether non-compliance could lead to revocation of a beer permit. Mr. Frost indicated that the law department would determine the appropriate action if businesses remain non-compliant, and that the ultimate penalty could include loss of the permit.

Key Outcomes

• Applications Approved:
  • 8A71 South Restaurant (Lucas Adsett): Approved pending final documentation (certificate of occupancy).
  • Boots and Beer (Tim Angelillo): Approved outright as the file was complete.
  • Fuel Stop Number Six (Ram G): Approved pending final documentation (certificate of occupancy).
• Postponements: As noted above, six items were postponed to February 17, 2026.
• Next Steps: The board will receive a report on TASC class compliance at the February 17, 2026 meeting. Additional warning letters will be sent to less delinquent businesses. The board may consider a policy change regarding the annual class requirement.