Riddle proposes bill for mobile app beer sales at events

San Francisco's 49ers started using the idea at Levi's Stadium in 2014 - letting customers order beer and other concessions through their smart phones.

Now the backers want to bring the idea to Missouri.

"This is a new technology that, essentially, instead of being at an event and going to the concession stand, the concession can come to you," lobbyist David Jackson told the Senate's Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee.

"So, you can log on and you can order foam finger nachos for your kids and a beer to be sent to you, instead of the beer man walking around the stadium."

Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, sponsors the Senate version of the bill, which would allow venues such as Busch Stadium, Sprint Center, various concert halls and theaters around the state to sell and deliver alcoholic beverages at events after an order via a mobile device or application.

"The venue and its employees are still responsible for following current laws that require verifying the legal drinking age of the person they are delivering the beverage to," she said.

Jackson represents First Rule, which he described as a "re-seller of this technology, called "Venue Next.'"

He acknowledged nothing in state law prohibits the practice.

"There also nothing authorizing it," he said. "The only reason we want to do this is because we don't have anything in statute that talks about that technology - and when they had this in San Francisco, at the 49ers' stadium (and) they initially launched this, there was a miscommunication with Liquor Control, because they'd never seen it before.

"So, we've talked with Liquor Control here, and everyone agreed there's nothing that stops you from ordering a bottle or a box of wine off of wine.com, and sending it to your house. We don't really see any difference between that and something at a stadium."

Payments would be made by credit card through the mobile app, Jackson said.

Several pro sports teams have launched, or are ready to try, the new delivery system, he said. And it shouldn't cost people jobs.

"The technology that we sell the stadium is just the platform - whoever the vendor is selling beer at the concession stand remains the vendor," Jackson said. "It's just changing the operation, and you're pushing it out to the stadium instead of pulling it in."

Riddle said: "This legislation simply tries to keep our laws up to speed with the changing means of commerce that are available, for the convenience of the customer."

The committee took no action on the bill after the hearing.