Deerfield BYOB Ordinance Takes Shape

If all goes according to plan, people may be able to bring their own wine with them for a meal at Deerfield’s restaurants by September.

A plan which allows diners to carry one bottle of wine per two people into an eatery was approved by the Village Board of Trustees Monday and will likely be on the agenda in August for approval, according to Management Analyst David Fitzgerald.

Originally discussed by the Board at a Committee of the Whole meeting in May, the likely ordinance turned out to be a cooperative effort between the Village and competing interests of different restaurant owners. “This is a pared down version,” Fitzgerald said. “

After inviting restaurant owners to a meeting, the original idea of allowing wine and beer in a separate license turned into a proposal which allows only wine. Before BYOB (bring your own bottle) permission is granted the restaurant must already have a liquor license.

“We’ve made a large investment in wine,” Trax Tavern & Grill Manager Robbie Cohn said. “Someone shouldn’t be able to pay $200 and let people bring in their own beer and wine,” he added suggesting his reasoning why an establishment should already have a license to serve alcoholic beverages.

Rhapsody Café and Bobby’s Deerfield were the two businesses originally asking for BYOB. After Rhapsody stopped serving dinner—it remains open for breakfast and lunch—it withdrew its request for a license, according to a Village report.

Bobby’s owner Bobby Arifi thinks the additional license will be good for business, particularly for wine connoisseurs. “A lot of people have their own cellars with an extensive collection,” he said. “If we don’t sell it they can bring it in.”

Arifi made it clear people could only bring wine not on his restaurant’s already extensive wine list. Is he worried about making less money? “We’ll make it on the corkage,” he said. The charge will be $20 per bottle. “It’s going to bring more restaurant traffic to Deerfield.”

Anyone who does not finish the bottle must comply with the same state law which binds people who might want to take the rest of a purchased bottle home requiring a specially sealed clear plastic container. Restaurant personnel are also under the same obligation to control consumption as they would be with beverages they sell.

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