Alcohol Protocol for Parishes

If an outside group wishes to serve alcohol at a non-parish event, they may do so under the following conditions:

• They must provide the parish with evidence of Host Liquor Liability coverage listing your parish/school, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporate Sole, and Cardinal Sean O’Malley as additional insured.
• The use of a licensed caterer or bartender is preferred. If a licensed caterer or bartender is used, the caterer or bartender must provide the parish with evidence of their Host Liquor Liability coverage and must list your parish/school, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporate Sole, and Cardinal Sean O’Malley as additional insured.
• Depending upon local regulations, a city or town may require the group to obtain a permit for serving alcohol. If so, the group is responsible for obtaining the permit and for showing proof of this to the parish/school.

Parishes need to be concerned about alcohol consumption by minors and with ensuring that people who are intoxicated are no longer allowed to drink alcoholic beverages.

Therefore, it is important that the organizers of the event in which alcohol is served follow these guidelines:

• Alcohol should never be served to an individual under the legal drinking age. Identification should be checked for anyone who appears to be under the age of 30.
• An individual should only be allowed to order or obtain one drink at a time. This will assist in deterring someone from becoming intoxicated too rapidly and will deter someone from providing a drink to a minor.
• A pre-existing plan should be in place to handle individuals who have had too much to drink.

The Office of Risk Management has drafted a sample letter that a pastor may use to inform non-parish groups of the above requirements: Sample Letter.