Drinks
One of the first questions to tackle when you run a social will be whether you will be providing the alcohol, or if the venue will be.
Selling alcohol at your event is one of the ways that you can make money, aside from the entrance ticket and raffles. Depending on your drink prices, you may not make much money from the drinks. If your venue provides the liquor license and alcohol, you will not make money from the sale of alcohol.
Laws, Rules, Regulations
The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) requires that you get a permit when you supply alcohol.
The MLCC's website has everything you need to know about your responsibilities on their Occasional Permits page.
Representatives from the MLCC do periodically drop in on events, so it is worth your while to make sure you are following all of the requirements of your permit.
What to Buy
A good social will have a few brands of beer available, as well as some hard alcohol such as dark rum, white rum, vodka and rye. Pick your liquor based on what you know is popular for the demographic you expect, and pick a few items for other demographics.
Social beers are usually cheaper domestics like Kokanee, Bud, Labatt Lite and MGD. You will probably want to avoid the cheapest beers like Minhas Creek and Lucky, but that may vary depending on your expected demographic.
When you go in to fill out the paperwork for your liquor permit, the MLCC staff can advise you on popular selections.
How Much to Buy
Most people will drink two to three standard drinks at a social. Check out the MLCC Party Planner to gauge how much liquor you should purchase.
After the function, unopened liquor can generally be returned. There are some rules about how and where - take a look at the MLCC's Occasional Permits page for more information on returning alcohol.
Drink Tickets
Usually drinks are priced at $2.50 or $3.00 each. Sometimes "premium" or "fancy" drinks will be available, with a different set of drink tickets at a higher price. Socials use the drink ticket system, where drink tickets are sold at one table, and drink tickets can be redeemed for alcohol at the bar.
It can be a good idea to use wrist bands or hand stamps to differentiate adults from minors. It is illegal to sell liquor to minors and as organizer you are responsible for what goes on at your event.
Keep it Safe
Make sure to include plenty of non-alcoholic drinks. Supply free fountain drinks if you can, and have easily accessible water.
Encourage your guests to use designated drivers, have information available about taxi and similar services. Post signs at all exits that includes phone numbers. As the organizer, you are responsible for the effects of the alcohol you provide. Find one or two of your helpers to volunteer to be designated drivers in case they are needed. Make sure your guests get home safe.
Operation Red Nose
Check if your social will be within the operating dates of
Operation Red Nose. It's a
free service run by volunteers during the Christmas season. Volunteers will arrive and
drive inebriated guests home in their own vehicles.
If Operation Red Nose is running, please make sure all of your guests are aware of it.
Taxi Services
Phone numbers for some of Winnipeg's taxi services:
- Unicity Taxi: (204) 925-3131
- Duffy's Taxi: (204) 925-0101
- Spring Taxi: (204) 774-8294
- Blueline Taxi: (204) 925-8887