ABC license... my responsibility? vendors, planners, brides welcome

Depends on the state you live in. Check out the liquor laws for your state. In MN you only need to have insurance and a license if you are selling the liquor. The only thing the host is responsible for is making sure no one under 21 drinks.

But in some states you would be liable. You can purchase Dram Shop Insurance or other liquor liability insurance.

Whether you need a license depends on where you are having the event, and (I think) whether you are serving it or whether your venue or caterer is serving it. If your venue or caterer are involved, ASK THEM what permits/licenses they have AND!! what insurance they have. It could turn out that liability for anyone who drinks underage or gets into an accident is on you, and if that's the case you need insurance to cover it, no questions asked. There is wedding/event insurance for this. Your sign won't relieve you of liability if the law says something else, the same way a bar can't let themselves off the hook.

So you have 2 things to look into:

1. Permit or license - do you need it, and if so, does your caterer or venue already have this covered?

2. Are you liable for guests who drink and get hurt? If so, don't even think about whether to get insurance - just do it.

Isn't there insurance you have to buy if you are providing the alcohol? We had to take out liability insurance to rent the Agricultural Hall. It protected us in the even a guest hurt themsleves while sober or intoxicated. We also provided DD's for the evening 10 PM till the last person was taken home, which would of came in handy if somone did drive drunk and hurt themselves.

FMS- It depends on your state. Where I live there are Dram Shop Laws that apply only to venues/stores that sell liquor and there are Host Laws that apply to people who give away liquor either in their home or at another location. The Host Laws state you are only responsible for making sure no one underage drinks. If someone underage drinks you are responsible for their actions.

Some places, it matters whether you provided (i.e., purchased) the liquor. In some places, it matters who is SERVING the liquor, no matter where it came from. In some places, it may be both, or neither.

But if you're providing the liquor AND guests are serving themselves, just get the insurance, regardless.

Im in Virginia and I have sent an email to a friend who had her daughter's reception that the same location. Where I live it a very small community not even a town. lol The venue is just a fire hall, so hopefully she will fill me in. Oh and Im doing all the food and stuff so no caterer to fall back on... praying the laws are in my favor! haha

We ran into a major snag. I was hearing different things so I called the state liquor commission (Nebraska). We are providing our own alcohol, but found out we still have to get a SDL license from any establishment or group that has a regular liquor license. So now we have to find someone with a license that is basically willing to sponsor our wedding and check ids (trying to get someone we know at the grocery store to do it). The lady from the state said it could be a VFW or local fire department and that we can still buy from a grocery or liquor store as long as we're not selling it. I'm sure any bar or restaurant is going to want to charge us per drink. Wish us luck in finding a savior!

My cousin got married in Roanoke. I am not sure about booze, but I know when you get a keg it is registered to someone with an ABC licence on it. I honestly would just walk into the ABC store and ask.

VA Special events licensees: http://www.abc.virginia.gov/licensing/banquet.htm

Every state is different, but the sad fact is that in our sue happy society, anyone can be sued for anything.

Def dont want anyone to get hurt or have it come back on me!! J&R S i looked at that site this afternoon. But still it didn't answer all of my questions. Im waiting to hear from the woman who had her daughter's wedding there. Thank everyone for helping!!

Some of that is going to depend on your venue and caterer. Good luck!