Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Is it legal to serve beer outdoors?"

Greg e-mails decorahnews.com, "On Friday afternoon I witnessed beer being consumed at the outside dining area in front of T-bock's.  Isn't this a violation of Decorah's open container law?"

Mr. Answer Person says: "In a word, 'no.'

Mr A.P. can think of a number of places where you could get served a beer outdoors--Toppling Goliath, Pulpit Rock Brewing, McCaffrey's, Don Jose and T-Bock's, to name a few.

In order for this to be legal, a business must apply to the State of Iowa for an outdoor beverage license.  Once the license is received, the beer or other alcohol has to be consumed within the designated area for such sales--you couldn't carry the beer out to your car, for instance.

But if T-Bock's or any other Decorah business has the right license and if the customers are drinking the beer or wine or drink within the area covered, no laws are being broken.