How to Get a Liquor License
Obtaining a liquor license is a time-consuming process. Liquor licensing is done by state entities, and each state liquor administration has different names, like the New York State Liquor Authority and the Washington State Liquor Control Board. Although the names are different, they accomplish the same tasks. One of those tasks is processing liquor license applications.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Find your state liquor administration website (see Resources below).
-
2
Determine whether you are a wholesaler or retailer. You are a wholesaler if you will be distributing alcohol to businesses for resale; you are a retailer if you will be selling alcohol to consumers.
-
-
3
Define what type of liquor license you wish to obtain. This will consist of the type of business you own or are purchasing--like a grocery store, liquor store, restaurant or bar--and the type of alcoholic beverages you intend to sell. Some states allow liquor to be sold in a grocery store, while other states only allow the sale of beer.
-
4
Download the application forms from your state liquor administration. In most cases, you will need to fill out certain forms depending on on the type of license you are applying for. If you own a grocery store and would like to be able to sell liquor, you will need specific forms for that.
-
5
Fill out supporting documentation for your application. You will likely need to fill out forms proving your citizenship, premises information (including diagrams in some cases), zoning forms and planned operation information.
-
6
Submit your application to your state liquor administration. Usually there are local offices that you must go through.
-
7
Wait to be selected. In some states, your application will either be accepted or denied. However, in many states, the liquor administration has only a certain amount of liquor licenses up for grabs. There are random drawings in states like California. In other states, some businesses are simply no longer granted new liquor licenses. In those cases, it is sometimes possible to buy a license from another business and then transfer it to yours.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Liquor administrations have zones within their state. Where you file and the person who will investigate and examine your application and business will be determined by which zone your business is in. This information is easily attainable from each liquor administration website.
In areas where no new licenses are available, there are people who have taken advantage of selling their license. In these cases, new business owners may be subject to absurdly high costs or shady business dealings. You should proceed with caution, and you may consider having an attorney present for this type of business exchange.
Make sure your criminal record is clean. If you have a felony on your record, you will not be able to obtain a liquor license.
