Hello Kristina:
I hope you are well!
The answer to your question depends a lot on the nature of the event. I have provided some information below, but I
encourage you to reach out to the Liquor Control Commission (contact link below) as well as:
- Check to see if your county/ municipality has any ordinances regarding Alcohol in public buildings.
- Check in with your local law enforcement to see how they interpret the Alcohol laws as I have listed them below.
- Ensure processes are in place to prevent underage drinking
- Ensure applicable laws regarding minors serving alcohol are followed.
- Check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered for any liability relating to an event with Alcohol.
So, the Liquor Control Commission enforces liquor licenses – not the liquor laws. If you don’t have a license, and you break the law, that would be law enforcement. If you have a license and violate that license (ie serve underage, etc.,)
then the liquor control board can get involved, as well as law enforcement.
Whether you need a non-profit license seems to depend a lot on whether the event is
at all commercial:
Non-Profit Licenses ARE required:
- If money changes hands – For example - winery speaks about wine, offers tasting and also offers wine for sale at the event; Event is fundraiser where participants are charged for tickets
or entry; If food is sold at event but wine tasting is free- ANY scenario where someone makes money.
- If no money changes hands at event, but speaker anticipates a “reward” of increased business because of event-“deals” or coupons for purchasing beverages at reduced cost at his/her winery,
for example, or spends time “selling” his or her wine during presentation (event is a defacto commercial).
The Michigan Liquor Control commission tells me, however, if you have a local person knowledgeable about wine (say, from a local wine store, etc.) and the library purchases the wine, and participants register and the event is held in a
venue like a library meeting room (as opposed to the library front lawn or park), the library CAN hold a tasting without a license- as long as there are no sales and no costs to participants – that is, no one benefits from the event.
You also need to make sure that your library’s liability insurance is up to this event, and that your municipality has no prohibitions for alcohol at that intended venue (such as prohibitions for public buildings or parks).
The bottom line is that ultimately it is your local law enforcement which is the entity charged with enforcing the law. Therefore, it is up to their interpretation. This is what makes this hard. It is difficult to get a firm opinion from
anyone on this.
On paper it seems like a typical library tasting should not need a license:
MCL 436.1913 prohibits the unlicensed provision of alcohol for consideration. (consideration meaning "consideration" includes any fee, cover charge, ticket purchase, the storage
of alcoholic liquor, the sale of food, ice, mixers, or other liquids used with alcoholic liquor drinks, or the purchasing of any service or item, or combination of service and item; or includes the furnishing of glassware or other containers for use in the
consumption of alcoholic liquor in conjunction with the sale of food.”). MCL 436.1915
governs the possession of alcohol in public areas (libraries could be considered “public areas.” MCL 436. 2027 governs “Consumer tasting events” by vendors and manufacturers of alcoholic beverages,
and doesn’t necessarily fit the library scenario (unless it is a winery or brewery that is conducting the tasting).
The advice given to me by the Michigan Liquor Control Board is if unsure, consult your local law enforcement and their opinion should govern.
If all else fails, you may be just safer getting a license.
In sum - If money changes hands – as a fundraiser or just to recoup costs, you will likely have to obtain a license:
https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_10570_16941-391552--,00.html
The Liquor Control Commission also has contact information at this site
https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/lcc/faq where you can call them for additional information. I have found them to be very helpful!
As always, libraries should consult their attorneys when considering programs involving alcohol.
I hope this is helpful!
Take care,
Clare
Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.
Library Law Consultant
Library of Michigan
517-335-8132
The research and resources above are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice
with respect to any particular issue or problem.
“the State may not, consistently with the spirit of the First Amendment, contract the spectrum of available knowledge.”
Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 482 (1965).
Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at
Michigan.gov/Vote.
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From: Katrina Rogers via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2026 2:20 PM
To: Lisa Waskin via Michlib-l <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Serving alcohol at a library program
CAUTION: This is an External email. Please report suspicious emails via the "Report to Abuse" button in Outlook
Hi all,
We're considering doing a Sit n Sip/Wine and Paint type of program, but weren't sure about serving alcohol at a library event. If you've done this, did you need a liquor license? Did you check IDs? Would you do
it again or not? Thanks for all your input! Please reply off-list, and I can compile the responses if anyone's interested.
Katrina Rogers
Pronouns: she/her
Library Director
Crawford County Library
Devereaux Memorial Library
201 Plum Street
Grayling, Michigan 49738
Phone: 989-348-9214 ext 202
Fax: 989-348-9294
