Caterers could serve alcohol at private events under license

The Department of Revenue may issue a retail alcohol caterer license. The applicant must be a for-profit caterer that runs a restaurant or qualifying commercial kitchen and mainly prepares and serves meals. Applicants must meet the state’s alcohol licensing requirements. The application fee is $300, and the license fee is $2,300 every two years. The bill would take effect if the Governor approves it.

A licensed caterer may serve alcohol with prepared meals at private events and buy, move, and store alcohol for those events. Events must be temporary and private. They may be away from the caterer’s main business or, in some cases, at a caterer’s commercial kitchen designed for private events. Snacks cannot be the main meal. Liquor purchases cannot include 1.75-liter bottles, and the license does not allow sales for customers to take away. For off-site events after 5 p.m., the caterer must carry liquor liability insurance or general liability insurance with liquor coverage. The caterer must notify the state at least 24 hours before the event. Liquor cannot be sold or served from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday service is allowed only in places where voters approved it in a local referendum. At an off-site event, the caterer may store alcohol there starting three calendar days before the event and must remove it when the event ends.

A licensed caterer or business liquor-by-the-drink holder may contract with an event host to serve drinks at the holder’s licensed location. This applies to a valid retail alcohol caterer license holder or business liquor-by-the-drink license holder. The host may charge an entry fee to raise money for charity and cover food, drinks, entertainment, and other event services. The host does not need a temporary event permit.

The Department of Revenue may issue special-event liquor permits to caterers, food-service businesses, and nonprofit groups. Caterers must hold a valid caterer license. Food-service businesses must provide food and drink service at the fair or special event. Nonprofits must meet the stated nonprofit requirements. A permit covers one event of up to 24 hours, and the permit holder may sell event tickets. The department may issue up to 25 permits on one application for an applicant in a 12-month period; the applicant may seek more permits separately. Applicants must submit a recent criminal records check and a form showing that local law enforcement was notified and had a chance to object. The nonrefundable fee is $35 per event; permits lasting up to 15 days cost $50 per day. Applicants must notify the state at least 24 hours before the fair or special event.

A holder of a biennial beer or wine permit may sponsor up to 12 functions each year where drinks are free. This applies to holders of a biennial permit to sell beer or wine for on-premises consumption. The functions must be authorized by the department and be fundraisers, private functions at the permit holder’s premises, or functions for the permit holder’s customers. The limit is 12 functions in each year.