Ala. Code
Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 28-1-6 (2026)

Issuance of Licenses for Sale of Intoxicating Beverages in Class 1 or Class 2 Municipalities.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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(a)(1) All other provisions of law, rules, or regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board shall absolutely have no authority to issue any form of license in a Class 1 municipality, including, but not limited to, off-premises consumption licenses, restaurant licenses, or club licenses, for the retail sale of any form of intoxicating beverages, including, but not limited to, malt liquor, beer, wine, liquor, or other alcoholic beverage regulated by the board, unless one of the following requirements is satisfied:

a. The application has first been approved by the governing body of the Class 1 municipality in which the site of the license is situated.

b. The denial of approval by the Class 1 governing body has been set aside by order of the circuit court of the county in which the site is situated on the ground that the municipal approval was arbitrarily or capriciously denied without a showing of one of the following:

1. The creation of a nuisance.

2. Circumstances clearly detrimental to or which would adversely affect the public health, safety, and welfare of the adjacent residential neighborhoods.

3. A violation of applicable zoning restrictions or regulations.

4. An individual applying for the license has a prior conviction involving the use of alcohol or a controlled substance.

5. The proximity of the business to a school or child care facility and the business hours of the operation will create a harmful environment for the children.

6. The traffic congestion created by licensing the proposed location will endanger others.

7. Any other reason that poses a risk.

(2) Proceedings in the circuit courts to review an action of a Class 1 municipal governing body denying approval of an application shall be expedited de novo proceedings heard by a circuit judge without a jury who shall consider any testimony presented by the city governing body and any new evidence presented in explanation or contradiction of the testimony. Any proceeding to review the denial of approval of a license application shall be commenced within 14 days of the action by the municipal governing body and shall be set for hearing by the court within 30 days thereafter.

(b)(1) All other provisions of law, rules, or regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board shall absolutely have no authority to issue any form of license in a Class 2 municipality, including, but not limited to, off-premises consumption licenses, restaurant licenses, or club licenses, for the retail sale of any form of intoxicating beverages, including, but not limited to, malt liquor, beer, wine, liquor, or other alcoholic beverage regulated by the board unless one of the following requirements is satisfied:

a. The application was first approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the site of the license is situated.

b. The denial of the approval by the governing body has been set aside by order of the circuit court of the county in which the site is situated on the ground that this municipal approval was arbitrarily or capriciously denied without a showing of one of the following:

1. The creation of a nuisance.

2. Circumstances detrimental to adjacent residential neighborhoods.

3. Circumstances detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare.

4. A violation of applicable zoning restrictions or regulations.

5. An individual applying for the license, or an individual who is an officer or director of a corporation or other entity applying for the license, has a prior conviction involving the use of alcohol or a controlled substance or a prior conviction involving the illegal sale of alcohol or a controlled substance.

6. The proximity of the proposed business to a school or child care facility and the business hours of the proposed business will create a harmful environment for the children.

7. Traffic congestion created by licensing the proposed business.

8. Any other reason that poses a risk to surrounding neighborhoods or to the public health, safety, and welfare.

(2) Proceedings in circuit court to review an action of a Class 2 municipal governing body denying approval of a license application shall be expedited proceedings, heard by a circuit judge without a jury. Any proceeding to review the denial of approval of a license application shall be commenced within 14 days of the action by the municipal governing body and shall be set for hearing by the court within 30 days thereafter.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-561, p. 1172, §§1, 2; Act 2000-805, p. 1916, §1; Act 2004-623, p. 1415, §1; Act 2006-401, p. 1007, §1; Act 2007-416, p. 867, §1; Act 2011-699, p. 2151, §1.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases, 2000–2018 · leading case: Phillips v. City of Citronelle, 961 So. 2d 827 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007).
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Phillips v. City of Citronelle, 961 So. 2d 827 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007). · cites it 10× “" Phillips then filed a complaint in the Mobile Circuit Court seeking a review of the decision of the city council; in his complaint, Phillips cited § 28-1-6, Ala. Code 1975, as authority for his action.”
Biggs v. City of Birmingham, 91 So. 3d 708 (Ala. Civ. App. 2012). · cites it 6× “Citing Simpsiridis, supra, for the principle that § 28-1-6 “provides for de novo review in the circuit court,” 738 So.”
Minesaha, Inc. v. Town of Webb, 236 So. 3d 890 (Ala. Civ. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “Code 1975, the town is a class 8 municipality to which neither § 28-1-6 nor § 28-1-7 applies, and the only manner by which the circuit court could have reviewed the town's decision regarding Minesaha's liquor-license application was upon a petition for the common-law writ of…”
State Abc Bd. v. Shabani, 819 So. 2d 46 (Ala. Civ. App. 2000). · cites it 3× “NOTES [1] In 1996, the legislature also adopted § 28-1-6, which applies to Class 1 and Class 2 municipalities, and prohibits the ABC Board from issuing licenses, except under certain circumstances.”
King v. City of Birmingham, 885 So. 2d 802 (Ala. Civ. App. 2004). “" "Clearly, the statute places the burden on the City to show that the denial is supported by one of the three situations stated in [§ 28-1-6(a)(1)(b)]." City of Montgomery v.”
Montgomery City Council v. G & S Restaurant, 98 So. 3d 1 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “2006) (stating that, as in this case, “[wjhere there is no statutory right of direct appeal from a local government’s decision to deny an application for a liquor license, the only proper method of judicial review is by the common-law writ of cer-tiorari”); but see §§ 28-1-6 and…”
Ensley Seafood Five Points, LLC v. City of Birmingham, 98 So. 3d 1149 (Ala. Civ. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “” The circuit court determined that the city council had before it evidence of several of the factors set out in § 28-l-6(a)(l)b.”
Embu, Inc. v. Tallapoosa Cnty. Comm'n, 263 So. 3d 731 (Ala. Civ. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “of § 28-1-6 require a showing that, among other things, the decision "has been set aside by order of the circuit court of the county in which the site is situated .”
Embu, Inc. v. Tallapoosa Cnty. Comm'n, 263 So. 3d 731 (Ala. Civ. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “of § 28-1-6 require a showing that, among other things, the decision "has been set aside by order of the circuit court of the county in which the site is situated .”
Birmingham Derby Club, Inc. v. City of Birmingham, 134 So. 3d 419 (Ala. Civ. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “In August 2011, well after the effective date of the amended zoning ordinance, Derby Club applied to the City for two dance permits for the property; pursuant to the authority conferred upon the City as a Class 1 municipality in Ala.Code 1975, § 28-1-6, Derby Club also sought…”
Ala. Code § 28-1-6(a)(1): 2 cases
Embu, Inc. v. Tallapoosa Cnty. Comm'n, 263 So. 3d 731 (Ala. Civ. App. 2018). “of § 28-1-6 require a showing that, among other things, the decision "has been set aside by order of the circuit court of the county in which the site is situated .”
Embu, Inc. v. Tallapoosa Cnty. Comm'n, 263 So. 3d 731 (Ala. Civ. App. 2018). “of § 28-1-6 require a showing that, among other things, the decision "has been set aside by order of the circuit court of the county in which the site is situated .”
Ala. Code § 28-1-6(a)(1)(b): 1 case
King v. City of Birmingham, 885 So. 2d 802 (Ala. Civ. App. 2004). “" "Clearly, the statute places the burden on the City to show that the denial is supported by one of the three situations stated in [§ 28-1-6(a)(1)(b)]." City of Montgomery v.”
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