May 11 2009
THE CATERING PERMIT: Serving liquor off-premise
If you already have an on-Premise liquor license for your restaurant, you can serve food and liquor at an off-premise event as long as you receive a catering permit from the Liquor Authority for that event.
GENERAL RULE: A Catering Permit authorizes a retail on-premise licensee to furnish alcoholic beverages for use at a specific function, occasion or event located off the licensed premise.
The fee for the permit is $48.00 per point of service/bar and there are restrictions/rules. For example:
(i) the function must not be open to the general public,
(ii) the permit is valid only for twenty-four (24) consecutive hours beginning at 8:00 a.m. on its effective date,
(iii) the applicant must be hired to serve food, in addition to alcoholic beverages, at the event (pretzels and chips do not meet the minimum requirements for “food”),
(iv) the application must be received the NYSLA at least fifteen (15) days prior to the event,
(v) a separate permit is required for each point of sale, and
(vi) no game of bingo or other game of chance may be played.
A diagram of the area to be licensed must be attached to the application along with a menu of food and alcoholic beverages to be served at the event.