Selling alcohol at a student party in France: the rules

Running a bar at a student party is no small matter: selling alcohol is a tightly regulated activity, and the association, and sometimes its officers, answer for it. Here is what you need to know before opening the bar.

An association's bar: the mayor's authorisation

An association that wants to sell drinks at an event it organises must obtain a temporary bar licence (buvette temporaire), with the authorisation of the mayor of the municipality (of the police prefect in Paris). This is article L3334-2 of the French Public Health Code.

Two rules to remember:

• the request is made in advance, to the town hall; many municipalities ask for fifteen days;
• an association is entitled to a maximum of five authorisations a year.

If the party takes place in a bar or a nightclub, it is the venue, which holds its own licence, that serves: the association then has no need for a bar of its own.

If the party takes place on the school's premises, the school almost always has its own rules, often stricter ones. Ask for them first.

The ceiling of five authorisations is managed over the year. An association that holds one party a month will not be able to run the bar itself every time. As soon as you draw up the autumn calendar, decide which events will have the association's own bar, and which will be held at a professional venue that serves under its own licence.

Which drinks?

A temporary bar may only offer drinks:

• from group 1: non-alcoholic drinks (water, soft drinks, juices, cordials, hot drinks);
• from group 3: fermented, non-distilled drinks, such as beer, wine, cider and perry.

Spirits (and cocktails that contain them) are excluded.

Template request for a temporary bar licence

Many town halls offer their own form, sometimes online: start by looking for it. Failing that, a short letter is enough. An outline to adapt:

Template translated for reference: the document you file or sign in France must be written in French.

Dear Mayor,

The association [name], declared under RNA number [number], whose registered office is at [address], is organising [nature of the event] on [date], from [time] to [time], at [venue and address].

In accordance with article L3334-2 of the French Public Health Code, we request authorisation to open a temporary bar on this occasion, where drinks from groups 1 and 3 will be offered.

This is our [first, second…] request for the current year. Around [number] people are expected. The bar will be run by [name, role], who can be reached on [telephone].

We remain at your disposal for any further information. Yours faithfully,

[Name, capacity and signature of the association's representative]

Keep the town hall's reply: you must be able to show the authorisation on the night of the event.

Alcohol at a student party: what is forbidden, whatever the party

• Selling or offering alcohol to a minor: this is forbidden (article L3342-1 of the French Public Health Code) and punishable by a fine of €7,500. If in doubt, ask for proof of identity.
• Serving someone who is clearly drunk: this is also an offence. The bar stops serving, and someone from the team takes over to look after the person.
• Unlimited alcohol: offering unlimited alcohol free of charge for commercial purposes, or selling it as the main offer for a flat fee, is forbidden (article L3322-9 of the French Public Health Code). An "unlimited alcoholic drinks" ticket is therefore not an option.
• Making someone drink under pressure: leading a person, against their will or not, to drink excessively at an event connected with student life falls under the offence of hazing (article 225-16-1 of the French Criminal Code). See running a welcome weekend (WEI) without things going wrong.

Alcohol brands cannot act as sponsors either: sponsorship that advertises alcoholic drinks is forbidden (article L3323-2 of the French Public Health Code).

Prevent rather than manage

• Make water free and visible, and price non-alcoholic drinks below beer.
• Offer food.
• Train a sober team, easy to identify, that does not drink during the party.
• Use wristbands at the door to tell minors from adults if the crowd is mixed.
• Display emergency numbers and set aside a quiet place for anyone who is unwell.

At the bar, a few simple rules make the difference: identical measures for everyone, no service "by the bottle", no drinking games or challenges, and an announced closing time, before the end of the party. The people serving must know that they have the right, and the duty, to refuse a drink.

An example: a party for 250 people

An association holds its start-of-year party in a municipal hall, on Saturday 21 November, for 250 guests, including a few first-year students who are still minors.

• Six weeks before: the board asks the school for its rules and checks with its insurer that the sale of drinks is covered.
• One month before: the request for a temporary bar licence goes to the town hall. It is the third of the year; two will remain.
• Two weeks before: the authorisation arrives. The board puts the team together: 6 people at the bar in two shifts, and 5 sober people for welcome and prevention, that is, one for every 50 guests.
• Prices: free self-service water, soft drinks and juices at €1, beer at €2.50. No spirits, no unlimited offer.
• On the night: tickets and age checked at the door, a different-coloured wristband for minors, bar closed at 1.30 am for a party ending at 2 am.
• Getting home: two shuttles to campus, at 1 am and 2 am, announced on the ticket.

Nothing spectacular, but each item has a person in charge, named before the party.

Getting home: the question people forget

The party often ends on the road. Organise the journey home before the party: shuttles, a list of taxi numbers, times of the last public transport, designated drivers who do not drink. Do not let anyone leave who cannot get home safely.

The association's liability

The organising association is responsible for the party running smoothly, and its officers may be held liable in the event of a failing. Check that your insurance does cover the sale of drinks: see insuring a gala or a welcome weekend (WEI).

Before opening the bar: the checklist

• the rules of the school and of the venue have been requested in writing;
• the temporary bar licence has been obtained, and the count of the five annual authorisations is up to date;
• the menu only includes drinks from groups 1 and 3;
• water is free and self-service, and non-alcoholic drinks are cheaper than beer;
• no "unlimited" offer, no partnership with an alcohol brand;
• age checks are planned at the door, and minors can be identified at the bar;
• the sober team is named, easy to identify, and knows what to do when someone is drunk or unwell;
• emergency numbers are displayed and a quiet space is set aside;
• the bar's closing time is set and announced;
• the journey home is organised and communicated to guests;
• the insurance certificate and the town hall's authorisation are on site.

Frequently asked questions

Can an association sell spirits at a party?

Not under a temporary bar licence: the mayor's authorisation only covers drinks from groups 1 and 3. Spirits and cocktails that contain them are excluded. If the party is held in a bar or a nightclub, it is the venue that serves, within the limits of its own licence.

Is an authorisation needed if the drinks are free?

Do not assume it is not. Local rules vary, and the ban on offering alcohol to a minor applies in any case. Ask the town hall, and the school if the event takes place on its premises, before announcing anything.

What should you do if a minor asks for alcohol?

Refuse, without exception. The person serving may ask for proof of identity, and the wristband fitted at the door saves having to do so with every order. Warn the team: an adult buying for a minor raises the same problem.

How many temporary bars can an association open a year?

Five authorisations a year for an association, under article L3334-2 of the French Public Health Code. Beyond that, the event must be held at a licensed professional venue, or without any sale of alcohol.

With toGaether

In toGaether, the party's ticketing can reserve certain ticket types for members, and tickets are checked by QR code at the door: that is the right moment to check age and fit the wristband. Town hall authorisations and insurance certificates are filed in the event's documents.

This article gives general guidance; local rules (town hall, school, venue) may be stricter.

Official sources (in French)

• Service-Public.fr — Associations : démarches et obligations
• Associations.gouv.fr — le portail de la vie associative