alcohol at weddings and why grandpa shouldn’t drink whisky
If you’ve ever met me, you’re aware that I’m not one for lots or rules or restrictions. My biggest rules that cannot be broken under any circumstance: don’t be dumb, and a licensed bartender has to serve liquor. The state of Oklahoma has a governing body called the ABLE commission and they are the ones that regulate all the beer, wine, and alcohol consumption in the state. There’s a lot to this process that most people don’t know so I’m here to give you the deets on how it’s done, what’s legal, what’s illegal, what’s advisable, and what you should NOT do!
I own a business that holds a liquor license. No, I’m not referring to a bartender’s license that costs $35 and anyone (almost) can obtain, I’m talking about the one that costs thousands annually. For any business that has been thru this process recently, we are the only ones aware of the cost, liability, time, and headache involved in obtaining this license. This license is what is required of bars and restaurants to legally sell alcohol to the public. The ins and outs of the laws regarding what is allowed and what isn’t is held tight like the key to Cleopatra’s chastity belt (that key doesn’t exist by the way… and neither does the belt). With my business liquor license, I am able to set up at your wedding and serve alcohol to your guests with a contract to do so. What cannot be done is a private individual selling alcohol at your wedding. You cannot offer a cash bar, meaning the guests are paying for their drinks, without proper licensing. This is a totally illegal practice in the state of Oklahoma as alcohol being re-sold has to be purchased from a distributor and tracked from purchase to delivery to consumption and all taxes and fees paid to the state along the way. Yes, they want their money and anyone who messes with tax dollars will hate life if they catch you. For weddings serving hard liquor, I require day of event insurance, a licensed bartender, and security. Guests are allowed to leave their vehicle overnight if they cannot drive. Security has the responsibility of making sure that no one leaves while intoxicated and if someone tries, they call the police and let them handle it taking the responsibility off the venue, the bride and groom and the security officer.
Why do we hear stories about not letting Aunt Dot or Grandpa drink dark liquor? Well, that’s because liquor can make some people mean, even Grandpa. Liquor is playfully called the social lubricant and it indeed in small doses acts as a mood easing and fun additive. However, in larger quantities, that same fun can lead down a path where emotions become raw and end up with Aunt Dot’s head in the toilet and Grandpa Joe crying in the groom suite about his long lost love at the port during WWII. This is not how you want to spend your special day, trust me. If you’re aware of family problems with alcohol its best to either forego said alcohol or strictly monitor intake even more intensely than the bartender who is serving it. You’ll be glad you did. Alcohol can also lead to other crazy things happening, like not remembering all the things about your day. Why would you or your family want to spend the money on this day for you not to remember it? If there are things you feel you’ll need or want to forget it would hugely benefit you to reconsider why you’re having a wedding. If it’s truly what you want to do, there may be some things that need to be removed from the day so you don’t feel the need to forget anything.. We live in a society today where pretty much anything goes. So if you don’t want you new husband to crawl up under your dress for the garter, then leave that out. Or just throw a garter that didn’t come from under your dress! (Ask me how many times I’ve seen a garter toss in all the weddings I’ve done, it’s not many!!!) This is your day, make it what you want it to be and make the memories you want to make. Again, you’ll be glad you did.
