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Before your special event

Last updated on June 18, 2024

Follow these steps to get ready for your special event. Review information about on-site documents, rules for selling and serving liquor and planning event safety and security.

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Step 1:  Gather documents for the day of your event

Once your permit is issued, you can download and print it from the Special Event Permit application portal.

Check the Application status for your Special Event Permit. It is ready to download when the status says "issued".

On the day of your event, you must have your permit posted it in a visible location in the liquor service area during your event. 

  • The area where liquor will be sold and consumed is called the service area. 

On-site documents

Your permit will list the specific documents required for your event. Keep these documents on-site and available for inspection. They may include:

  • Liquor Special Event Permit
  • Site plan
  • Serving It Right or Special Event Server certificate information
  • Security plan
  • Signage to help manage your event
  • Receipts for liquor purchased or donated before the event
  • Drink price list
  • Incident log
  • Letter of exemption from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch
  • Documents from police, local government and First Nation
  • Documents endorsing event significance (municipal, provincial, national) 

For a printable checklist, download On-site Documents for Your Special Event (PDF, 72KB).

Step 2: Review the rules for selling and serving liquor 

You must follow B.C. liquor laws and the terms and conditions of your liquor Special Event Permit.

Before your event date be sure to:

Learn about cannabis at a special event.

Serving It Right or Special Event Server certification

Ensure that all permit holders, event managers and anyone serving liquor at your event has  valid Special Event Server (SES) or Serving It Right (SIR) certification. 

Special Event Server is a mandatory self-study course training specifically for serving alcohol at special events. 

Serving it Right is a more detailed liquor sales and service program generally intended for servers in a licensed establishment.

  • A server with a valid Serving It Right certificate does not need to complete Special Event Server training as well
  • Certification from another province may be accepted. Find information at Responsible Service BC

Maximum drink prices

If you are selling liquor at your event, drink prices are limited under the Special Event Permit. 

  • This applies whether you are charging a price per drink or including a drink in the price of event admission

Maximum drink prices are set by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB).

There are some exceptions. You may be able to charge more than the maximum drink price at your event if:

  • You are raising funds for charity
  • The event has municipal, provincial, national, or international significance
  • You have approval from the LCRB’s licensing division 

If your organization has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration number, you can include GST in the liquor price.

Liquor quantities

There is a limit to the maximum number of drinks you can serve at your event and the serving amounts for each drink. The LCRB or local police set these limits to help prevent attendees from getting intoxicated.

The maximum number of drinks you can serve at your event is listed on your Special Event Permit.

The amounts you can serve to one person at one time (serving amounts) are: 

  • Two standard cans or bottles (12 oz or 355 mL each) for packaged beer, cider or coolers
  • Up to 24 oz (682 mL) for draught beer, cider or coolers
  • Up to 10 oz (284 ml) for wine by the glass
  • Up to 3 fl oz (85 ml) for spirits

For tasting events, drink servings sizes are smaller. Refer to the Liquor Service section in the Special Event Permit Terms and Conditions Handbook (PDF, 433KB). 

Service area limits

Your Special Event Permit states the maximum number of people, including staff, that you can have in your liquor service area at one time. Check your permit to ensure you don’t exceed the maximum number of people allowed.

Step 3: Review your responsibilities as permit holder

You have specific requirements and responsibilities with your Special Event Permit. Make sure you understand your role as permit holder.

Step 4: Arrange event security and safety

You must take steps to prevent disturbances or illegal activities at your event. If your event poses a safety threat, the liquor inspector or police can cancel your permit and order guests to leave.

Liquor service area

The area where liquor will be sold and consumed is called the service area. The entire space where your event takes place is called the event site and should be outlined in your site plan.

  • For events where liquor is permitted throughout, the liquor service area would be the entire event site 
  • For events where liquor is served in a specific area, like a beverage garden, the liquor service area would be a portion of the event site

Your permit specifies the maximum number of people allowed in the service area at any given time. This means the number of people allowed within that designated space, not the number of people who can stand at the bar at one time.

Fencing around the perimeter

Your liquor service area must be surrounded by a barrier to limit the sale, service and consumption of liquor to only that space. ​

For more information, review the Controlling Your Event and Security sections of the Special Event Permit Terms and Conditions Handbook (PDF, 433KB).

Prevent overcrowding 

Your liquor Special Event Permit indicates the maximum number of people, including staff, that you can have at your event site and in your liquor service area at one time. For events over 500 attendees, you must have controls at each entry point and you must be able to count the number of people entering and leaving.

Security plan

The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch will review your Special Event Permit application to determine if a security plan is required for your event. A security plan outlines how you will:

  • Control crowds
  • Prevent minors from accessing liquor
  • Prevent overconsumption of alcohol

Drinking and driving

ICBC offers a Special Event Kit to help remind your attendees to get home safely. The kit includes materials to help you encourage attendees to use a designated driver or other safe options to get home. Order your kit from ICBC.

Minors

It is against the law to provide liquor to a minor. You must have policies in place to make sure minors don’t drink, serve or sell liquor on your event site. Minors are not permitted in beverage gardens where the service of liquor is the primary focus.

Step 5: Get your liquor

Once your Special Event Permit application is approved, you can buy liquor for your event. Attendees cannot bring their own liquor to your event.

All liquor sold and served at your event must be purchased from one of the following:

  • BCLIQUOR store (government liquor store)
  • Private liquor store in B.C.
  • B.C. winery, brewery, or distillery with an on-site store
  • Wine store or special wine store within a grocery store
  • Rural licensee retail store (private rural liquor store)

Keep all receipts for liquor purchased and have them available on-site during your event.

Liquor must be purchased in B.C.

Types of liquor

At private special events:

  • You can sell or serve all types of liquor except UBrew and UVin
  • You can serve (but not sell) UBrew and UVin under a family or hobbyist liquor Special Event Permit

At public special events:

  • You can sell beer, wine, cider, and coolers
  • You cannot sell spirits designed for rapid consumption (shooters)

Breweries

You can purchase kegs of beer and beer products directly from B.C. breweries.

Donated liquor

You can serve liquor that has been donated under the following conditions:

  • It was donated by a licensed liquor manufacturer or agent
  • The purpose of the event is to raise funds for a charitable purpose

Family events and businesses cannot receive donated liquor.

Private liquor collections

You cannot provide liquor from a private collection to be served by the glass or as samples to attendees.

Next: During your special event

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