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Jacqueline Paradee Mette Office of the Delaware Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner (OABCC)
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Virtual Hearings

The OABCC conducts virtual hearings on violations of Delaware alcohol laws and regulations as well as protested license applications. All hearings are virtual unless otherwise noted.

If you wish to testify during an OABCC hearing, please review the information below.

To ensure order, fairness, and efficiency, OABCC Protest Hearings will be governed by the following protocol:

  1. The purpose of a Protest Hearing is to provide a formal platform for the public to hear the details of specific legal matters and for eligible persons to provide testimony as part of the official hearing record that will inform the final decision of the Commissioner. An applicant for a liquor license has the opportunity to present its case for a license which may include presenting evidence in support of the application, and for the applicant to ask questions of the protesters and to question their evidence. It is also an opportunity for valid protesters to ask questions of the applicant and question its evidence, and to present testimony as to why the license should not be granted.

  2. Members of the public are invited to attend and observe the hearing.

  3. In addition to the Applicant, persons who live or own property within one mile of the premises to be licensed are eligible to appear and testify at a protest hearing if they pre-register in advance of the hearing. If 5 or more persons pre-register to testify, the Office will conduct a hearing; if less than 5 persons pre-register to testify, the Office may elect to cancel the hearing. Persons who wish to provide testimony must appear at the hearing; a written statement in lieu of in-person attendance will be acknowledged, but will be given less weight by the Commissioner than in-person testimony.

  4. Any documents a party wishes to introduce during the hearing must be received by the Office at least 10 business days prior to the hearing.

Who is eligible to testify at a Protest Hearing?

  • Persons associated with the liquor license that is the subject of the hearing, such as the owners, their attorney, and witnesses they choose to call in support of the application.
  • Persons who live or own property within 1 mile of the premises, filed an official protest with the OABCC, and have pre-registered to testify with the Office.
  • Persons who live or own property within 1 mile of the premises who did not file an official protest, but have pre-registered to testify.

Any eligible person wishing to offer testimony during the hearing must register no later than noon Friday prior to the hearing to be added to the list of persons who will be called to testify during the hearing.

Registration Form


Each person who will testify will be asked to formally identify themselves for the record and be sworn in by a court reporter.

To ensure an impartial hearing, each person will be allotted three minutes of time to testify to ensure that everyone is treated equally, and that all who want to testify have an opportunity to do so. Because the applicant is presenting its case for consideration, the applicant will be afforded more time.

Members of the public are invited to attend hearings before the Commissioner on alleged violations of alcohol laws and regulations.

The only persons who are eligible to testify during Violations Hearings are the licensees charged with a violation, their lawyers and witnesses, and officials with the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement, who investigated and issued the violations.

Registration Form


OABCC hearings are formal legal proceedings. There is no public comment portion of the hearing.