Liquor License or Special Event Permit

View quoted message Perhaps hire mobile bartenders. Regardless , you will need an SOP for the event. The bartenders you can contract out (alot of companies out there) or pay someone to serve (that you trust and are knowledgeable) about liquor laws in ON. Having the same issue right now with my venue. The venue recommended I use a bartender that bartends there alot (familiar with one another) but looking at all of the costs, fees and headaches (bring liquor in and out, only having one bartender, dealing with the permit in my name, buying all the booze etc) we will probably will just hire a catering company to run and sever the bar for us as well as lite appetizers. Catering company Already has a liquor license, they bring and take away everything and come with multiple servers so guests aren't inconvenienced. No headaches, no stress and no liabilities. But everyone budget is different so choose what's best for you! Read the liquor license regulations act !
Our recommended bartender didn't know or was telling us information that was against the liquor law eg. Would allow guests to come up to the bar and get a bottle of wine; anyone with a smart serve (which I've had since 18) says you can't give a guest more than 2-2.5oz. Our bartender we interviewed would have no way of knowing who was exactly consuming the alcohol, plus she's stuck at the bar all know unable to monitor guests consumption. Ask questions when interviewing, she told us about a wedding that she did ended at 930.....because a giant fight broke out. I wondered how that happened.......
Be careful if your venue or catering company isn't doing the liquor, you will be the host and are responsible for the "event"/ wedding, including guests who drive home drunk!
https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/apply-sell-or-serve-alcohol-private-event

Great topic!


Our venue doesn't supply alcohol and the recommended bat tender wants us; bride and groom to take out the SOP in our name.
I have a smart server myself but completely didn't make the connection that I couldn't drink if my name is on the liquor license.
Thanks and looking for some more Bartender related topics!

Is that the Heritage House at Boundary Bay Regional Park??
You will need a Special Event Permit regardless of alcohol or not (my wedding is also in a metrovan park!) and probably a liquor permit. You can designate someone else to not drink and be the name on the permit so you can drink - its your wedding im sure someone will step up for you!

The permit is the only way to go abouts buying booze since your venue isn't supplying them.

On the other end, i couldn't buy alcohol since thr venue had to do that based on my request.

My reception venue requires SOP (Special Occasion Permit) for having alcohol. my FH and I are providing the wine & stocking the bar- our catering company said that it was the best way to do cash bar and for us to get the $$ from it.

Thanks for the info Tori - the venue won't supply the bar, and I don't want to burden any of our guests with applying for the license/special event permit on our behalf (and the responsibilities that go with it).

So, hopefully option 2 would work, having a mobile bar service, or at least our caterer's bar service take car of all the legal stuff. Will talk to them in more detail about this.

I know we are in different provinces entirely so our legalities may be a bit different - but here in Manitoba if you are the one carrying the liquor license then you can't consume the alcohol (which is no-bueno for me ). So the options that we have here are:

1. Have the venue supply the bar

2. Have a mobile bar service cater the wedding

3. Take the license out and buy drinks yourself - but make sure you have the license in the name of someone you trust will be monitoring the liquor intake (cut people off if need be), and will remain sober the night. I recommend having an Uncle or Aunt do this.