State of Michigan 
Licensing and Regulatory Affairs 

Information on Private Events, Bartender Licenses, Bartending Services, and Food Trucks

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Unlicensed Bartending Businesses / Mobile Bartending Services

There is no license for bartending businesses or mobile bartending services for private events in Michigan.  A person or company may provide bartending services for a private event, subject to the following:

• The bartender cannot purchase alcoholic beverages for or provide alcoholic beverages to the host of the private event.

• The bartender may charge the host of the private event for the bartending services, supplies, and nonalcoholic items, but must not charge the host for any alcoholic beverage products.

• The bartender may only serve the alcoholic beverages or mix drinks using alcoholic beverage products purchased by the host of the private event from a business with the appropriate off-premises liquor licenses.

• The bartender may make suggestions to the host for which alcoholic beverage products to purchase from the off-premises licensee.

• The bartender may offer different prices for the bartending services to the host of the event based on the various types of alcoholic beverages to be served.

• The bartender cannot charge the guests of the private event for the alcoholic beverages served and no cover charge may be charged for alcoholic beverages.

If person or company is providing bartending services for a nonprofit organization that has been issued a Special License, the nonprofit organization must purchase all the alcoholic beverage products to be used at the event.  The nonprofit organization may sell the alcoholic beverages to patrons via ticket or cash bar.  The bartender would provide bartender services only and all proceeds from the sale of alcoholic beverages would go to the licensed nonprofit organization.

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https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/lcc/private-events-bartending-services-food-trucks