Do I need a licence to serve alcohol from a marquee tent?

Figuring out if you need a license to serve alcohol at your next marquee tent event isn’t quite as simple as we thought. Our best advice would be to contact the national liquor authority.

Scenario number 1

The simplest scenario to look at is that you have a catering company taking care of the food and serving the drinks. Most likely any professional catering company would have the license in place to cover the types of events they cater for. If you are unsure, make sure to ask them!

Scenario number 2

You will be supplying the food and beverages at your own small private party. This means the event is free entry and the alcohol supplied is also free, the guests are more than likely friends and family – then a license is not required.

If you are the organiser of a large event on behalf of another person/entity, where you will be supplying alcohol for free or selling, you do require a license. You can apply for a limited liquor license for a once-off event.

If “free” or “complimentary” alcohol is linked to the purchase of a ticket for entry, this assumes a retail sale is taking place. In this case you will most definitely need a license.  
It is important to note that if you are hiring a marquee tent for your event, your marquee tent hiring company will not be responsible for taking care of the liquor license. The responsibility lies with the organiser. If you are using a specific venue, building and their bar – check to see if you need to apply for a limited liquor license.

Take into account the waiting period for these licenses to be obtained when planning an event. The process could take anything between 2 and 4 months to complete. The application cost for once of event liquor licenses range from R500 to R2000, depending on the nature of the license required.

We also hire chairs, tables, catering pots, jumping castles, table cloths and more. Contact us today.

For all you Marquee manufacturing and hire solutions contact Rams Hiring Solutions. Situated in Baysville, East London. You call we deliver, always on time.  

*please note this is information that we have researched in our own capacity and in no means should be replaced by following official guidance and information that can be obtained by the relevant authorities.