A reader asked us whether it was legal to charge corkage when you are BYOB and a quick call to the SLA (State Liquor Authority) clears up a few common misconceptions.
Restaurants cannot be BYOB unless they have a license to sell alcohol. There is no separate BYOB permit. That means they have to go through the process, get the liquor license and have at least a temporary license on hand. If they choose to let you bring in booze and not sell their own, that is their call.
So to answer the reader's question - licensed establishments can charge corkage. That is completely legal and outside the SLA's jurisdiction.
Restaurants cannot be BYOB unless they have a license to sell alcohol. There is no separate BYOB permit. That means they have to go through the process, get the liquor license and have at least a temporary license on hand. If they choose to let you bring in booze and not sell their own, that is their call.
So to answer the reader's question - licensed establishments can charge corkage. That is completely legal and outside the SLA's jurisdiction.
Leave a comment