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ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSING ×

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 ​​South Carolina Department of Revenue
Alcohol Beverage Licensing
Columbia, SC 29214-0907

Phone: 803-898-5864
Fax: 803-896-0110

Licenses

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SPECIAL NONPROFIT EVENTS

Overview

The Special Nonprofit Event License authorizes domestic nonprofit organizations to solicit and accept the donations of beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor for sale and on-premises consumption at an event. It also allows suppliers to provide equipment and trained representatives to serve and pour alcohol at licensed nonprofit events.

This permit is issued to nonprofit organizations only. To be eligible for this permit a nonprofit organization must have an eleemosynary charter from, or be a political party affiliate certified by, the South Carolina Secretary of State's office.

This license does NOT authorize:

  • the sale or consumption of beer, wine, or alcoholic liquor drinks outside of special events.
  • the sale or consumption of beer, wine, or alcoholic liquor drinks at a location that has a pending permanent alcoholic beverage license application.
  • the distilling, rectifying, brewing, fermenting, blending, and bottling of alcoholic liquors at the licensed location.

License Period

  • The Special Nonprofit Event License cannot be issued for a period exceeding 72 consecutive hours.
  • Nonprofit organizations can hold a maximum of four events per year that require a Special Nonprofit Event License.
  • If a nonprofit organization is hosting events at multiple locations simultaneously, they must obtain a separate Special Nonprofit Event License for each location.
  • However, simultaneous events conducted in a single county may count as one event toward the nonprofit organization's four-event yearly limit.

 Application Requirements

Review the general applicant qualifications to make sure you are eligible to apply. These are the required application materials for the Special Nonprofit Event License. If you have questions about the application process in general, visit our General Information page.

License Requirements

  • General License/Permit Requirements
    • Residency Requirement
      • If the applicant is a sole proprietor, they must have been a legal resident of South Carolina for 30 days prior to submitting an application to the SCDOR.
      • If the applicant is an entity, it must have been registered with the South Carolina Secretary of State's office for 30 days prior to submitting an application to the SCDOR.
    • All principals, officers, owners, and managers must be of good moral character and be at least 21 years of age.
    • The applicant must already have a valid South Carolina Retail Sales License, Admissions Tax License, or hold a Retail Sales or Admissions Tax Exemption Certificate. For more information, contact the SCDOR License and Registration section at 803-898-1350.
    • Only manufacturers authorized to do business in South Carolina may donate beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor. Manufacturers include producers, vintners, brewers, microbrewers, importers, distillers, and micro-distillers.
    • The donated product must come through a supplier or wholesaler licensed in South Carolina and be received by the nonprofit organization.
    • All principals, officers, owners, and managers must be in tax compliance with the SCDOR. This includes:
      • Filing a South Carolina State Individual Income Tax return if they are South Carolina residents
      • Owing no tax liabilities to the SCDOR
    • No person, partner, or member may have any financial interest of any kind in any other tier of the beer, wine, or alcoholic beverage industry.
  • General On-Premises Regulations
    • The location must be suitable for the sale and consumption of beer, wine, and liquor in the opinion of the SCDOR.
    • This license is issued for a specific location only. Once your location has been approved by the SCDOR, you cannot transfer the license to another location.
    • We will not issue a Special Nonprofit Event License to a location that has a pending application for a permanent beer, wine, or alcoholic liquor license or permit.

Fees

  • $40 per license
    • Events extended past 11:59pm require an additional day's fee
    • Due when you submit your application 

Forms

  • Law Enforcement Notification for Special Event Application (ABL-100)
  • Application Packet for Special Nonprofit Event License (ABL-909)
    • You must file your application at least 15 days prior to your event.
  • Applicant and Principal Consent and Waiver (ABL-946)
    • Each principal, officer, owner, member, and/or partner MUST complete the form.

Other documents

  • Criminal Records Check (CRC) for each principal. CRC cannot be more than 90 days old.
    • If the principal has lived in SC for 2 or more years, obtain the CRC from SLED
    • If the principal has lived in SC less than 2 years, obtain a CRC from SLED and from previous state of residency
    • If the principal is not an SC resident, obtain a statewide CRC from their current state of residency


Click the title above to review FAQs about the Special Nonprofit Event License. If you have general questions, please see our main FAQs page.


See also



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 Alcohol License Locations






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