Providing Alcohol when Not on Own Property

[LazarusDarkeyes]

In the state of California, is the following scenario legal:
-Bring liquor to a private venue I rent out for a private party
-Charge a door charge for entry to my invited guests
-Have a bartender in the employ of the venue serve the brought liquor free (open bar)

Does this scenario violate any liquor laws? There will be no one under 21 years of age on the premises.

Thank you.

[jk]

Offhand I do not know but have you asked the venue you are considering renting? I am sure they would know the applicable laws as their license depends on it.

[cyjeff]

Do you have a liquor license?

What you are trying to do is open a temporary bar. You are not allowed to do that without a license.

[LazarusDarkeyes]

I am considering many options for venues and wanted to be armed with correct knowledge before approaching them in detail.

I do not have a liquor license.

I guess legally I may be "opening a temporary bar", but the intention is essentially to organize a large party for my friends and I and not eat the costs fo the entire thing by myself. I will not be making money off of this and will probably end up losing hundreds (and I'm ok with that).



Question: Does it matter if I do NOT bring my own liquor. If I let the venue use their own (which means they'll charge me more, but, it might be worth it), but I still charge the door charge, do I still need a liquor license?

[cdwjava]

In the state of California, is the following scenario legal:
-Bring liquor to a private venue I rent out for a private party
-Charge a door charge for entry to my invited guests
-Have a bartender in the employ of the venue serve the brought liquor free (open bar)

Does this scenario violate any liquor laws? There will be no one under 21 years of age on the premises.

Thank you.

Yes, you would be in violation of a few laws.

How many laws depends on whether this "private venue" is a person's home or some other public place. If a public place, like a hall of some kind, then they will almost certainly demand you show you are insured and ask that you have an appropriate liquor license.

Now, if the bartender is employed by the venue and you are operating under THEIR liquor license, you should be okay.

Address your questions to the California ABC.