To obtain a bartending license in South Carolina, you must understand and comply with the Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL) rules and regulations. The process involves applying for an Alcohol Beverage License through the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR), meeting residency or business registration requirements, submitting necessary documents, and paying nonrefundable filing fees. Additionally, you may need to complete an alcohol server training course and adhere to the regulations set forth in Title 61 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
1. Understand the ABL Rules and Regulations
- Purpose: To ensure you are legally providing alcohol at events and understand the three-tiered distribution and licensing structure that separates manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing interests into distinct tiers of operation.
- Instructions: Familiarize yourself with the ABL Rules and Regulations for Catering & Bartending in South Carolina. You can find more details here.
2. Apply for an Alcohol Beverage License
- Purpose: To legally serve alcohol in South Carolina.
- Estimated Cost: The cost varies depending on the type of license you're applying for. The filing fees are listed on each license's page details.
- Instructions: Apply for an Alcohol Beverage License from the South Carolina Department of Revenue. You can apply for licenses and permits online using the SCDOR's free tax portal, MyDORWAY. Some ABL licenses and permits require you to first obtain a Retail License from the SCDOR. After your Retail License has been issued, you must log in to MyDORWAY to apply for these licenses and permits.
3. Complete an Alcohol Server Training Course
- Purpose: To provide servers, staff, and managers the knowledge needed to supervise the sale and consumption of alcohol in a safe, professional, and practical manner.
- Estimated Cost: $24.99.
- Instructions: Enroll in an alcohol server training course such as the one offered by TAM (Techniques of Alcohol Management). You can enroll for the course here.
4. Follow the Regulations in Title 61 of the South Carolina Code of Laws
- Purpose: To ensure compliance with the state's laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol.
- Instructions: Familiarize yourself with the regulations set forth in Title 61 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. These regulations cover application procedures, filing fees, permits and licenses, retail sales tax license, retail liquor dealers, and display of permits and licenses.
FAQs
- What are the eligibility requirements for a new Alcohol License in South Carolina? You must have residency or business registration in South Carolina for at least 30 days. If you do not meet the 30-day requirement, your application will not be accepted.
- What documents are required for the application? You're required to submit supplemental documents such as the receipt or affidavit from the advertisement you ran in an approved newspaper, a Criminal Record Check (CRC) for all principals, and possibly other documents depending on the license you're applying for.
- What happens if I violate any of the regulations in Title 61 of the South Carolina Code of Laws? Violation of any of these regulations can lead to your license being revoked or suspended.
Useful Information Source Links
Learn more about Local Food Business Trends and Insights
About Otter
- Increase revenue up to 10% with Marketing*
- Reduce storefront downtime by up to 50% with Live Alerts*
- Increase sales up to 50% with Digital Dine-In's QR code ordering*
- Reduce missed orders to less than 1% with Order Manager's Auto-Accept feature*
- Supercharge your food business with our all-in-one restaurant POS system*