2019Q2SpiritedVA - 20

Y

ou want to throw the party
of a lifetime-a retirement
party, wedding reception,
company celebration, birthday
bash, fundraiser, tasting or
general good-time festivity. You
want to create an event that you
and your guests tell stories about,
laugh about and remember fondly
for years to come. While all of
your decisions are important-
the venue, the guest list, the
entertainment, the food and
drink-the decisions involving
alcohol are essential. Ensuring
that your party is legal can make
or break the event.
By knowing and following
the laws and regulations of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, you
can host a party that is both
enjoyable and legal.

Ins and Outs of
Banquet Licenses
Under some circumstances, you
will need to get a banquet license
from Virginia ABC for your event.
If your event meets all of the
following criteria, then you
will not need a license (unless
required by the locality or the
facility).
* The event is private (in other
words, it is not open to the public
and not in a public place).
* Money is not exchanged for
alcohol or otherwise.
* The event is not held at a club
or non-licensed restaurant.
* Alcohol purchased for the
event is not from a wholesaler
or distributor (you may instead
purchase directly from Virginia

20 VIRGINIA ABC | ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV

NEED A LICENSE?
Find out if your event needs
an ABC license.
MY
FACILITY
REQUIRES
A LICENSE

YES

MY
EVENT
IS...

PRIVATE

NO

OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC

MY EVENT IS
BEING HELD AT
NON-LICENSED
CLUB OR
RESTAURANT

YES

I'M
PURCHASING
ALCOHOL FOR
THE EVENT
THROUGH...

A VIRGINIA
ABC STORE
OR OTHER
AUTHORIZED
WINE/BEER
RETAILER

start here

NO

NO

I'M
CHARGING
MONEY FOR
ALCOHOL

YES
A WHOLESALER
OR DISTRIBUTOR

YOU NEED
A LICENSE!

NO LICENSE
NEEDED

Still have questions? Contact your Regional Enforcement Office
or visit www.abc.virginia.gov/licenses

ABC for liquor and wine-more
on that below-or an authorized
retailer for beer and wine).
Again, all of these criteria must
apply. So, for example, if you or
your group is hosting only invited
guests and are providing alcohol
at no charge whatsoever, but the
event is held at a restaurant that
doesn't serve alcohol, you need a
banquet license.

You will need a license:
If you have invited the
general public to your
event; if you're requesting
payment (for tickets,
alcohol, etc.); or if the
event is held at a public
location that doesn't
already hold a license for
serving alcohol, then you
will need a license.
http://www.abc.virginia.gov/licenses http://ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV
2019Q2SpiritedVA

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