Serving booze in the home for a "donation"

[bherder]

Totally off topic. My wife is helping run a indoor playground for kids. They come to a place 2x a week for a few hours to let the kids run around and play with toys. Sort of breaks up the day for people who live in the pacific northwest during the winter :) My wife suggested as a fundraiser that we have vendors come to our basement in our house one day for a small fee ($10). These vendors sell misc stuff (crap) to ladies like chap stick, candles, etc. People from the play group and their friends would come to our house and buy things from the vendors. The "playgroup" would get the $10 per vendor money to help them in the following year. Now here is the catch. My wife also wants to serve wine and have a "donation jar". At first she wanted to chart $5 per glass, but I said no way in our house due to liability reasons. I still say no way with the donation jar due to liability reasons. Am I off base here? Need some more people to chime in with their input. I see it as a liability either way you cut it and I don't want to have any part of this in our house.

 

Maybe each vendor needs to pass a DMV background check? :)

 

 

 

[Horton]

I am sure it is a bad idea but if you serve Kilo Kai you will be supporting BallOfSpray

[boarditup]

This goes by state, but here in MI there is some case law that puts you in violation of several laws the regulate liquor licenses. The main culprit was college-age parties. A phone call to the county prosecutor would clear this up quickly.

 

[east tx skier]

Yeah, it varies by state, but if I had to guess, you cannot charge for alcohol without a license. Calling it a donation probably isn't going to work as a viable loophole if you you get caught.

[jdarwin]

Sell the wine glass for $10 and fill it with wine for free. Viable loophole.

[rodltg2]

Thats what we did in college. We sold the red dixie cups at the door for $3.00. Beer was free.

[MattP]

@rodltg2 the beer better have been free if you were selling dixie cups for $3! There must have been people hovering all over the keg! We use solo cups they have a larger capacity!

[rodltg2]

Thats what I meant , red solo cups. I always hated the smart arses who would come with their big gulp cups. They thought they were so clever, but while my turn at tap master, I would make those dudes wait till last.

[crashman]

sounds like a bad deal if somebody gets tanked up and runs over a pedestrian or something on their way home. I'm not sure your blanket policy would cover that and I'm guessing you have significant assets that would be at risk. Even though it's low probability I'd say not worth the risk.

[Kelvin]

check your insurance policies on liquor liability and host liquor liability. It will vary by state, but having any type of charge for the cup, entry to the venue, etc will likely violate the definition of host liquor coverage, if you have it. Host liquor liability coverage generally covers social situations where you serve liquor free of charge.

 

I would suggest hiring a catering company that has the appropriate liquor licenses and insurance and make sure their insurance covers you as well as an additional insured.

[6balls]

Sounds like a bad idea.

[rodltg2]

It's sad we live in a day where we can't just serve some wine at home without getting the lawyers and insurance companies involved. Can't believe skiing is still legal !

[Razorskier1]

Ya. Wouldn't do it. I serve @6balls and a bunch of friends at my house every summer . . . but they stay at my house so I don't have to worry about the driving thing! Besides, they are trained professionals.

[6balls]

@razorskier1 I don't think it's about serving friends in a house, it's the payment for same. Having said that...sure am glad you don't charge by the glass...though would make a killing that week :)

[liquid d]

I'm an insurance agent...don't do it ....period. You want to have a party, fine. Don't charge for anything.

[bherder]

Thanks for the advice. My dad was a police officer and my mom was an insurance agent. I knew it was a bad idea! Just needed to convince the wife!