If you serve dinner, reservations only, are the customers aloud to brings there own wine? We have no lisence.?

Question

I work at a small cafe. We serve breakfast and lunch. Just recently we have started serving dinner, reservations only. We did not have a liquor license. The owner of the cafe was told that he could let the customers bring there own bottle of wine. Do we need a license? If we do what kink do we need??

Answer 1

If it is a Private party your customers can, but if more than one party is in your restaurant you may not. If you want a license you need a liquor license, this will also attract business.  I work and help manage a small restaurant, we have a catering service and people may bring wine, we have a liquor license but on sum days we are not aloud to serve, (only if its a Private party we may). Hopes this help.

Answer 2

This depends upon what state, city, county, or province you live in.  Chances are though that it is not allowed.  Any food service establishment that serves to the general public (this includes by reservation as well) cannot allow the consumtion on it's premise, if there is no liquor, beer or wine license. Also your restaurants insurance company wouldn't approve either, as you are not paying for the liability of allowing consumtion of alcohol on your premise.  The DRAM laws, that allow anyone to sue any establishment that was a contributor of an alcohol related accident would still apply to you, even though you don't have a liquir license.  In other words, even though they brought the wine, they consumed it in your establishment, if the get intoxicated, get in a car, and cause an accident, they can sue you, the person they hit can sue you, and so on.  Also "bottle clubs" in most states have been banned, these were establishments that allowed a customer to bring in a bottle of booze, and it was kept behind the bar with their name on it.  Then they could come in, and pay the establishment for the mixers, and drink off their own bottle.  THis was popular for after hours clubs, allowing a business to serve after the legal hours.  Best bet is to contact your local Beverage board, or whatever agency monitors and inspects businesses in food service and bar and ask.  It is not worth the risk of getting in trouble.