Fair Season Daily Licenses: Running a Nonprofit Beer and Wine Booth in California

Updated November 8, 2026. This article was written in August 2023 and reviewed as of this update. Application details come from ABC’s ABC-221 instructions; check ABC’s current instructions and fees before applying. It is general information, not legal advice.

The beer booth at the county fair

Late summer and early fall bring county fairs, street festivals, harvest celebrations, and fundraising dinners across California. Many of them include a beer and wine booth run by a nonprofit: a service club, a school foundation, a church, or a youth sports league raising money for the season. Those booths usually operate under a daily license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

A daily license is short-term, but the responsibilities are the same as for any licensee. This guide walks nonprofit organizers through the process described in ABC’s instructions, the Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) requirement for daily licenses, and how to run a booth that raises money without raising risk.

Who can get a daily license

ABC’s ABC-221 instructions describe two broad categories:

• General (beer, wine, and spirits): ABC lists organizations formed for a specific charitable or civic purpose, fraternal organizations in existence for over five years, religious organizations, and political organizations.
• Beer and wine: ABC lists existing nonprofit organizations, including charitable, civic, cultural, fraternal, patriotic, political, religious, social, or amateur sports organizations.

ABC says an organization holding its first event must first be qualified by the department, and should bring IRS or Franchise Tax Board documents showing its tax-exempt status. ABC’s daily licenses page provides additional information.

The application, step by step

Based on ABC’s instructions:

1. Complete Form ABC-221, the daily license authorization.
2. Get the property owner’s authorization. The owner may sign the form, or provide a signed letter showing the date, time, place, and type of alcohol to be served.
3. Prepare a diagram if needed. ABC says a detailed diagram (Form ABC-253) may be required for outdoor events.
4. Get police approval when required. ABC says police department approval may be required when a large number of people are attending, when the event is on a public street or in a public area such as a parking lot, when it is the first event at the location, when the event is a “casino night,” or in other circumstances at the department’s discretion. The applicant is responsible for obtaining it.
5. Submit on time. ABC says the form must be received at least 10 days before the event but should not be submitted more than 30 days in advance, at the ABC district office with jurisdiction over the event location, in person or by mail.
6. Pay the fee by cashier’s check or money order, as listed on ABC’s license fees page.

ABC also says the license may be issued with conditions on sales, service, and consumption, and that a representative may need to come to the ABC office to sign them. If requirements are not met, the license may not be approved.

Plan the calendar backward

The 10-to-30-day window is narrow. Work backward from the event date: secure the property owner’s signature and police approval early, then submit inside the window. A missing signature discovered a week before the fair can cancel the booth.

The RBS requirement for nonprofits

ABC’s instructions state that, effective July 1, 2022, any nonprofit organization applying for a daily license must have a valid certified RBS server on site at all times during the event, within the area where alcohol is being served. ABC notes that 100 percent virtual events are exempt.

That requirement sets a minimum, not a goal. A single certified server cannot watch every pour at a busy fair booth. Organizers should aim to have as many certified volunteers as possible, and at least one certified person at every service point and during every shift. ABC’s RBS program page explains how training and certification work. For staffing larger events, see Staffing Festivals and One-Day Events in California.

Volunteers are servers

Nonprofit booths often rely on volunteers who have never poured a beer professionally. Under the law, the rules do not change because the server is unpaid:

• Business and Professions Code section 25658 prohibits furnishing alcohol to anyone under 21.
• Section 25602 prohibits serving an obviously intoxicated person.

Volunteers should never drink while serving. ABC’s model house policies, written for on-sale licensees, offer a useful starting point for booth rules, including no drinking on duty and supporting servers who refuse service.

Running a safe booth

ID and wristbands

Fairs are family events. Set up a separate ID check station where guests show identification and receive a wristband before they can buy. Servers then pour only for guests wearing a valid wristband, and still check ID when something seems off.

Ticket systems and limits

Drink tickets make it easier to control sales and track volume. Many organizers limit the number of drinks sold per transaction, such as one or two at a time, to discourage buying for others.

Watch the hand-off

Adults buying a second cup for a teenager is one of the most common problems at family events. Watch where drinks go after they leave the booth.

Mark the boundary

The licensed area should be clearly marked, and drinks should not leave it unless the event’s conditions allow. Station a volunteer at the exit.

Pour sizes and pacing

Use consistent cups and pour sizes. Stop sales before the event ends so guests have time before they leave. Offer water and nonalcoholic drinks at the booth.

Heat and long days

August and September fairs can be hot, and guests may be outside all day. Heat and alcohol together raise the risk of dehydration and can make intoxication harder to read. Keep free water available, set up shade for guests in line, and watch for guests who have been at the fair for hours.

Casino nights and other fundraisers

ABC’s instructions note that an organization planning a “casino night” or controlled games as part of a fundraiser must comply with Business and Professions Code section 19985, including pre-approval from the Bureau of Gambling Control of the Department of Justice. Combining gaming and alcohol requires extra planning, and organizers should start early.

A volunteer briefing in ten minutes

1. Introduce the certified RBS server and who to ask for help.
2. Explain the wristband and ID system.
3. Show the pour size and drink limit.
4. Describe signs of intoxication and how to refuse service.
5. Explain the boundary and the closing time for sales.
6. Remind everyone: no drinking while volunteering.

After the event

Keep a record of refusals, refused IDs, and any incidents during the event. Debrief with volunteers: what worked, what did not, and what to change next year. Organizations that hold several events a year can build a small team of certified volunteers who return each season.

Choosing and preparing volunteers

Not every volunteer belongs behind the beer booth. Organizers can assign volunteers who are 21 or older, comfortable saying no, and willing to stay sober for their shift. Younger volunteers can help with food, tickets that do not involve alcohol, or cleanup. Schedule shifts of three to four hours so volunteers stay alert, and pair newer volunteers with experienced ones. Encouraging regular volunteers to complete RBS certification builds a dependable team for future events.

Working with the event organizer

At large fairs, a nonprofit booth is often one of many vendors. Coordinate with the fair or festival organizer on security, lost children, medical help, and emergency contacts. Know who to call if a guest becomes aggressive or seriously intoxicated, and where the first aid station is. Find out whether the event has its own rules on alcohol leaving booths, wristband colors, or closing times, and make sure they match the conditions on your daily license.

Money handling and record keeping

Cash and alcohol together require care. Keep sales and ticket counts accurate, separate cash handling from pouring where possible, and record the number of drinks sold per shift. Those numbers help the organization plan future events, and they provide a record if questions arise. Keep a simple incident log for refusals, refused IDs, and any problems, and file it with the organization’s event records. For holiday-weekend events, see our Fourth of July long weekend plan.

A sample timeline

• Six to eight weeks before: confirm the organization’s eligibility and gather tax-exempt documents.
• Four to six weeks before: secure the property owner’s authorization and, if needed, police approval and a diagram.
• Ten to thirty days before: submit Form ABC-221 and the fee to the correct district office.
• Two weeks before: confirm certified RBS volunteers for every shift.
• Event day: brief volunteers, set up the ID station, and post any license conditions.

Insurance and the host venue

Many fairgrounds, parks, and private venues require event liability coverage, sometimes including liquor liability, before they will sign a property owner authorization. Ask early what the venue requires, and allow time to obtain coverage. Insurers may ask about training and procedures, so keep a list of certified volunteers and the booth policies. For more on how training records support coverage, see RBS Training Records and Liquor Liability.

When in doubt about any requirement, call the ABC district office that will handle the application. Staff there can explain what the office expects for your type of event and location, which avoids surprises close to the deadline.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance do we apply?

ABC’s instructions say at least 10 days before the event, but not more than 30 days in advance.

Do we need an RBS-certified server?

Yes. ABC says that since July 1, 2022, nonprofits applying for a daily license must have a certified RBS server on site during alcohol service.

Do volunteers have to follow the same rules as paid staff?

Yes. The prohibitions on serving minors and obviously intoxicated persons apply to anyone serving.

Common mistakes organizers make

• Submitting Form ABC-221 too late, or more than 30 days early.
• Assuming the venue’s own license covers the nonprofit’s booth.
• Scheduling a single certified server for a booth with several service points.
• Letting volunteers drink during or between shifts.
• Selling several drinks per transaction without watching where they go.
• Forgetting to post or follow the conditions attached to the license.

The bottom line

A fair booth can be a great fundraiser, but a daily license brings the same responsibilities as any license. Planning the application inside ABC’s window, putting certified servers at every service point, checking IDs at a dedicated station, and briefing volunteers keeps the event safe and keeps the organization welcome back next year.

Sources

1. ABC: ABC-221 Instructions
2. ABC: Daily Licenses
3. California BPC 25658
4. California BPC 25602
5. ABC: Model House Policies
6. ABC: Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Program

This article is general information, not legal advice.