Beer Forum

Does anyone have any experience setting up a charity event where homebrew is served? I would like to setup a fund raiser/beer tasting event but I know with the whole "can't sell homebrew" thing I'm not sure how to go about it. I believe I could just charge for attending by saying a donation is required for entrance... at least I think I can do that.

Every year our homebrew club participates in a small beer festival sponsored by the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. There is an admission charge that all goes to the ACS. Local (Nebraska) breweries and brew pubs as well as the wholesale commercial distributors all serve samples. Our homebrew club does the same. There is also a silent auction of donated items in several groups (one group auctioned off each hour). Various food vendors also offer samples of their fare. The public also votes on their favorite beer. We love that part because we have won that vote with our homebrew for the last four years in a row.

The key to making this legal is that the event is directly sponsored by the charity. The alcohol served is all a donation to the charity. The charity is responsible for obtaining the proper liquor license and ensuring that all applicable regulations regarding the serving of beer (age checks, no serving to folks already obviously intoxicated, etc) are enforced.

By having the charity sponsor the event, it avoids any appearance of "selling" homebrew. A non-profit organization will also have an easier time in getting the event liquor license.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

Ah... well that might be tough. The charity I was going to support isn't really a charity, it might be a nonprofit business though. There is a "No-Kill" animal shelter here in town that runs all on donations that I'd like to help out.

Techie101 wrote:Ah... well that might be tough. The charity I was going to support isn't really a charity, it might be a nonprofit business though. There is a "No-Kill" animal shelter here in town that runs all on donations that I'd like to help out.

The key word is "donation." As long as the homebrew is free (with suitable controls to keep it out of the hands of minors) you should be okay. Some states might construe paying admission as paying for beer. But the shelter will have to take the civil liability and obtain a license. Check with your alcohol board. They can tell you what you need to do, and as long as they sign off you should be golden.

At least that's how I understand Texas law to work. Your mileage may vary.

I would look to someone in your community for answers frankly the state laws vary so much that any advice we give could be wrong so easily.

Okay now disclaimer given...

1 - Look up your state statues on Alcohol distribution and see what rules they use there. They should be online somewhere.

2 - If you know of another festival in your town or state that serves homebrew or alcohol contact them and see what rules they follow, any particular government agent they may work with and you may want to contact him or her for how to proceed.

3 - I second what Bug said get this local group involved early and keep in contact with them.

4 - If all that fails and it's a small enough a town contact the local city government and ask how best to work with them.

Communication is the key to success

What our club did a few times...
1. had the event at an existing establishment that served (piggy backed on their license)
2. charged entry fee (included pint glass and 10 or so tickets)
3. Had several commercial breweries handing out beer for tickets, homebrew was no tickets
4. could buy more tickets for more beer, homebrew was still free
5. sold t-shirts and other shit
BUB

This one of the rare times where it better to ask permission first instead of forgiveness later. Especially in Tennessee. In Missouri you have to do like Bub did and do it through a licensed establishment. There's a couple of beer festivals in St Louis, but they are big enough that whatever pain it would involve is worth it. Oregon is pretty beer friendly, right? At the Oregon Brewer's Festival the local club can't give out samples. Check with someone and get it writing. Of course, a few vials of pentobarbital and a box of syringes and the shelter wouldn't need so much. Just saying.