Open Forum

Delta
Many museums purchase liquor licenses. Some (very few) operate the license themselves (which requires staffing, storage, purchasing, training) while others assign it to a vendor to manage. There may be implications for catered events, donated liquor and other financial or operational considerations. Each state and local municipality has different rules and regulations so its probably best to consult a qualified liquor attorney. My firm works with museums across the country in setting up and developing food and beverage operations. I am happy to speak with you if you'd like but the local regulations needs to be confirmed.

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Tracy Lawler
President
JGL Food Service Consultants
Princeton NJ
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Delta,

At the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, which is an accredited museum and National Historic Landmark, we have our own beer and liquor permit from the state of Indiana.  We have a large event center at our building that has two bars, two catering kitchens, separate meeting rooms, and a large event hall that can seat over 400 people.

We hire our own bartenders that are paid <g class="gr_ gr_373 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="373" data-gr-id="373">part-time</g> staff of the museum who hold a bartending license and pay them a standard hourly rate plus tips, which are appropriately reported to the state.  Our annual budget for beverage sales go into our events income budget (food, beverage, guest fee, misc.) and our 2019 budget for beverage sales is $90,000.   All together our event budget net profit for 2019 is at $234,000 and that is typical and not an <g class="gr_ gr_944 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="944" data-gr-id="944">astronimcal</g> projection to pad the budget.  

You will need to check with your insurance on having a beer and liquor license as we do incur that additional cost, but to <g class="gr_ gr_1070 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1070" data-gr-id="1070">us</g> it is worth it.  We host weddings, conferences, corporate retreats, family reunions, etc. and we always keep the full museum open so our event guests also get to experience our museum and many <g class="gr_ gr_1246 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="1246" data-gr-id="1246">return</g> <g class="gr_ gr_1256 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="1256" data-gr-id="1256">afterwards</g> to fully experience it rather than a quick visit during an event.

Hope this helps you a little bit!

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Brandon Anderson
Executive Director & CEO
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
Auburn IN
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Hi Delta,
I know several museums that own their own license in CA. I have one client, a popular wedding and corporate cultural destination that is considering owning their own ​license and self-operating. I also know a couple of CA based alcoholic beverage license consultants that can help you if needed.

I am happy to talk to you about this at no charge/obligation and educate you a little bit.

If you need help thereafter with the 'what-ifs' we can do that for you too.

If you have annual historical stats (number and type of events) and actual or estimated alcoholic beverage sales that is helpful to see if a permanent license is right for you.

Hope this is helpful.
Best regards,
Art


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Art Manask
Principal
Art Manask Consulting, Inc.
artmanask@gmail.com
818 358-3588
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We have two licenses at two different locations - for us the licenses are specific to a location not to an organization.  We were required to post an alcohol bond - for tax purposes.  Annually we must renew the local (City) license and the state license.  We also have alcohol liability insurance coverage. We have a locked storage space for the alcohol. Per our local and state alcohol ordinance, we cannot purchase alcohol except through a licensed distributor. If we run out, we cannot go to a local store and pick some up. Also, all alcohol must be consumed on premises. No alcohol may leave our premises.  We track alcohol sales separately from food sales because we have to file an annual report to the city that shows the amount of food sales and alcohol sales.  We also need that for sales tax purposes.  We can run a report of how much beer, wine, liquor was sold.  
  
All of our security staff and food & beverage staff are TIPS trained.  They do the online certification.  In addition to the required postings in the bar area, we post large signs near the exit that state "Stay Alive Don't Drink and Drive."  "We can arrange transportation for you."  This is done for every event where alcohol is served. We will allow galleries to be open during the start of an event, but generally we will not leave them open long if alcohol is being served at an event; however, food and drink are not allowed in our galleries.  So this requires them to postpone getting a drink or put their drink down.  

All pourers must have a pouring license issued by the county sheriff's office.  If it is a smaller event or just beer and wine, we use staff to serve.  If it is a larger event, we have a catering company that we use.  The company we use issues us a certificate of insurance with proof of alcohol liability coverage.  Their workers must have a local pouring license.    We pay by the hour for the bartenders.  

We have pricing for clients to pay by the hour or by consumption.  They must choose up front which they want to do.  Clients also elect the type of alcohol they want (beer, wine, signature drink, full open bar) and they can select house brands or premium brands.

I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.


Cathy Lee Eckert
Chief Operating Officer
Georgia Museums, Inc.
Cartersville, GA 30120
Bartow History Museum http://bartowhistorymuseum.org
Booth Western Art Museum http://boothmuseum.org
Tellus Science Museum http://tellusmuseum.org
Coming late 2020 Savoy Auto Museum http://savoymuseum.org

 


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Cathy Lee Eckert
Chief Operating Officer
Georgia Museums, Inc.
Cartersville GA
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I would strongly urge you contact the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage control.  They are the agency that issue all permits for the sale and/or consumption of
alcoholic beverages.  They can give you the most current information applicable to your museum and its specific settings.  Beyond the ABC permit, there may be additional requirements to comply with depending where the facility (where the alcoholic beverages are) is.  We are located in Sacramento County.  One of the requirements is that we have to hire a certain number of private security based on how many will be attending (total attendance).  It the attendance reaches a certain number than we have to hire a certain number of off-duty deputies.depending on attendance. 

Although most, if not all of the vendors, will not intentionally give give out wrong information, they are not the ones whose name is on the permit.



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Raymond Meyer
Archives-Artifacts
Aerospace Museum of California
McClellan, CA 95652
safety-security@aerospaceca.org
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Hi Delta!

Yes, we did this for the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah. We created an immersive speakeasy experience
that is also a full functioning bar that serves Prohibition period drinks for museum patrons during their tour.
The speakeasy is also rented out for private and corporate events. Alcohol license application requirements vary
from state to state, but starts with city application and almost invariably requires State Department of Revenue concurrency. 
Hope this helps!

Nikole Alvarez
Historic Tours of America, Inc. 
Collections Management 
St. Augustine, FL

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Nikole Alvarez
Collections Manager
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