Special events can range from private events such as weddings, conferences, seminars, conventions, class reunions and private parties, to public events such as arts festivals, rodeos, community activities, and political, religious and charitable fund-raisers. Alcohol service at these special events can be accommodated many different ways under Utah law. Some may require issuance of a permit, others may not.

NO PERMIT REQUIRED.

There are two situations where no permit is needed to serve alcohol at an event.

1. The "Privately Hosted Event" Exception.

If the event is truly private and not open to the general public, and the alcohol is furnished by the host without charge to those attending, then no alcohol permit is required. To qualify for this exception, you must be hosting a social, business or recreational event for which

(1) an entire room, area, hall (or building) has been leased or rented in advance;

(2) the event is limited in attendance to people who have been specifically designated (and their guests); and

(3) the alcoholic beverages are furnished without charge. This exception does not apply to events to which the general public is invited, whether for an admission fee or not.

Thus, you will need to establish some way to determine at the door that only those who have been invited (and their guests) are admitted, and not the general public. There can be no indirect sale of alcohol by way of charging admission or selling tickets to offset the cost of the alcohol. Perhaps the best example of the "privately hosted event" exception is a private wedding where those attending have been specially invited and are on a guest list, and the host provides the alcohol at no charge to the wedding guests.

You may hold a privately hosted event for a single day or several days, and there are no set hours for alcohol service. You may serve any liquor, wine or beer at the event as long as it has been purchased in Utah. You should also take precautions to ensure that no one under 21 years of age is served alcohol at the private event. You could be potentially liable for serving someone you knew or should have known was under the age of 21, and they become intoxicated and injure or cause damage to another person.

Note that under Utah's keg beer law, any beer served under the "privately hosted event" exception must be in bottles or cans purchased at retail. Beer may not be served "on draft" from a keg. The keg law prohibits anyone, other than a licensed or permitted beer retailer, from being in possession of beer in containers larger than two liters. It also prohibits beer distributors or wholesalers from selling keg beer to anyone other than a licensed or permitted beer retailer. Also, there is no provision in the law that allows dispensing of "heavy beer" (over 3.2% alcohol content) on draft from kegs.

Organizers of privately hosted events hosted by accredited foreign diplomatic missions, click here.

2. Events Held on a Licensed Premises.

(A) If you hold an event on the premises of a restaurant or private club that already has an alcoholic beverage license you do not need a separate permit to have alcohol served to your guests. This may be done two ways:

(1) The alcohol may be provided under the restaurant's or private club's license out of its own inventory. The drinks may be paid for by your guests or you may run a tab for the entire group, and pay for the drinks at the end of the evening. Under this method, all laws relating to the manner of alcohol service in the restaurant or private club must be strictly followed. Thus, you may not serve patrons over the bar in a restaurant, because the law regulating restaurants only allows alcohol to be served at the patron's table in connection with an order for food. Similarly, all laws relating to private clubs would apply including those restricting use of the club facilities to club members and holders of visitor cards and their guests. Under this scenario, beer could be served on draft under the licensed establishment's alcohol license.

(2) Alternatively, you could hold a "privately hosted event" on the premises of a licensed establishment. Under this scenario, your group would provide the alcohol under all of the guidelines outlined for the "privately hosted event" exception previously discussed. The alcohol would be furnished by the group and would not be dispensed from the licensed establishment's inventory. However, you could hire personnel of the restaurant or private club to dispense your alcohol to your guests. Again, no separate alcohol permit would be required. But 3.2% beer as well as heavy beer would have to be served from bottles or cans, and not from a keg on draft. Back

(B) If you hold and event at a hotel, convention center, resort, or sports center that holds an on-premise banquet and catering license, alcohol may be provided for contracted banquets under the manner of service of a cash bar, hosted bar or at a meal function (such as a dinner) where the drinks may be paid for by your guests or you may run a tab for the entire group, and pay for the alcoholic beverages at the end of the evening.

Utah Code references: "Privately hosted events" : 32A-1-105(37); 32A-12-213(1)(d)
Keg beer law: 32A-12-206

PERMIT REQUIRED

A permit is required for any event where alcohol is sold (directly or indirectly), or the event is open to the general public. If alcohol is sold either directly at a cash bar, or indirectly as part of a ticket, admission or registration price, you will need to get a permit. If you invite the general public to attend either by word of mouth or through public advertising, you will need a permit.

Temporary Special Event Beer Permits.

If you only want to sell beer at your event, you will need a state temporary special event beer permit. Temporary event permits for the sale of beer (3.2%) are issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for on-premise consumption at a temporary event that does not last longer than 30 days. Permits are issued by the commission once a month. Application must be made by the 10th of each month.. Each permit costs $75, requires you to get the written consent of the local jurisdiction where the event will be held; and that you obtain a $500 cash or surety bond in the amount of $500.00 for the duration of the event.

Contact the DABC for assistance in obtaining the forms to apply for a temporary special event beer permit. This permit is in addition to any that are required by a city, town, or county in which the event is held.

For a detailed summary, click here.

Single Event Permits.

If you want to sell liquor (distilled spirits, wine and full-strength beer) at your event (i.e. a "cash bar", or alcohol "included in the price of admission" situations), or your event will be open to the general public, you must obtain a state single event permit from the DABC. There are some limitations associated with these permits:

-- They need to be applied for in well in advance because the DABC Commission only issues them once a month at its regular meeting.
-- They are only available to bona fide corporations, partnerships, limited liability corporations, incorporated associations, churches, and political organizations that have been in existence for at least one year prior to the date of application. They are also available to recognized subordinate lodges, chapters, or other local units of these entities.
--Each permit is only valid for 120 consecutive hours, but each organization may have up to four permits per calendar year. This would allow your group to sell alcohol under two permits for a total of 480 consecutive hours (twenty days).
-- Each permit costs $100.00; requires you to get the written consent of the local jurisdiction where the event will be held; and that you obtain a $1000 cash or surety bond in the amount of $1000.00 for the duration of the event.

Contact the DABC for assistance in obtaining the forms to apply for a single event permit.

For a detailed summary, click here.