Chances are, if you're selling alcohol at your event, you might be thinking, "Do I need a liquor license?". The answer is absolutely yes! However, hosting a private event with friends is much different from a huge community-wide party, so make sure your specific type of event abides by all the local laws. Here are some clear guidelines to help you serve wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages the right way!

Do you need a liquor license to serve alcohol?

If you're selling alcohol (which is a solid way to make money at your event!), then yes, you will need a license. Or, if you're selling tickets and serving alcohol, like at a paint and sip, a liquor license is required. It's super important to determine how to obtain the proper licensing while you’re planning your event, so you can go into your event day with confidence.

The first thing to know is that liquor licenses vary by state. This means, while we may not have one perfect answer for you, we can give you directions on how to secure a liquor license in your region. Some states make it much easier to understand than others. For example, Oregon's legal definition is a great place to start. According to their website, licensing is required at your event when:

• ​Alcohol will be sold.​
• Alcohol is available (but not being sold), and you are charging or accepting donations for admission.
• Any type of payment is required to attend the event.

When you don't need a liquor license for an event

On the other hand, Oregon's website states that a liquor license is not needed at special events where you are making alcohol available, but there is no payment or purchase required, and no donations of money are accepted (e.g., for alcohol, for entry, for admission, or for any other product or service at the event). 

This can include serving alcohol at a private event like a wedding reception where guests can enjoy some booze, but you don't require payment or purchase and don't accept donations.

When in doubt, contact your state's liquor board through their government website and explain what your needs are, so you can determine what documentation to file to receive your appropriate liquor permit. Do you know other event organizers in your community? Ask them how they got their temporary permit for serving alcohol in your specific region.

State variations in liquor licenses

Keep in mind, there are subtle differences between states. For example, in Indiana, you can only get a license for beer and wine. If you want to serve liquor, you need a licensed caterer.

Counties within the same state may even have varying laws depending on if they are "wet", "dry", or "moist". A wet county allows the sale of alcohol while a dry country prohibits all sale of alcohol. A moist county, however, permits the sale of alcoholic beverages in certain situations. Additionally, there may be different policies regarding for profit events versus those hosted by nonprofit organizations.

To confirm what happens in your state, search “temporary liquor license for an event” on Google and then type in your state or city. You'll need to use those exact words, because a “special event license” is a separate type of license, and your event likely won't need that. If you are hosting your event somewhere that already has a liquor license and using their staff, you will not need a separate license.

How much do liquor licenses cost?

This varies heavily by state. Usually, this will range within a few hundred dollars. For example, California's license costs $50-75 per day, or their special temporary license is $100. Luckily, because you're only needing a temporary permit as an event, it won't cost nearly as much for you as it would for a restaurant purchasing an annual license for their alcohol served.

Alternative ways to serve alcohol without getting a permit

Wanting to serve alcohol at your event, but wanting to skip securing a liquor license? When selecting your event venue, prioritize options that offer bar services. If they let you run a cash bar, attendees can purchase alcohol straight from the venue, saving you from having to purchase drinks at all as the organizer.

If the venue doesn’t have a bar service, consider hiring a professional caterer! They’ve already obtained a license to serve food and drink, and your venue is their “licensed premises”. You’ll need to check with them of any requirements like a percentage of food sales required in proportion to drink sales.

The role of event insurance

Now that we've got that sorted, event insurance is the next important piece to the puzzle. Lucky for you, once you've got a liquor license, this is going to seem easy! For any event, but especially those with alcohol, it's wise to have event insurance. Even venues that already have a liquor license will probably ask you to get additional event insurance. This is easy to do. Call up your regular insurance provider and they will give you a quote. You can also do this online. The cost will range from about $75 to a few hundred dollars, depending on if you’re a small event with no alcohol versus looking for around $1 or $2 million in event insurance. Keep in mind, if you’re serving alcohol, you’ll need to include liquor liability coverage.

Cheers to hosting your next event with confidence!

That's it! You're all set to secure a liquor license (and your event insurance!) for your upcoming events. As you build your event page, keep in mind to clarify in your event description if you're serving alcohol and have any age restrictions on who can attend. With TicketLeap's full suite of features, you can include custom questions in the purchase process to learn more about your attendees (e.g., how many are of drinking age) and even embed a waiver at checkout for them to sign too. Now, go forth and toast your newfound knowledge with a signature cocktail at your event!