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Georgia Dry Hire Explained: Who Buys the Alcohol for Your Event?

2026-10-20

If you’ve asked an Atlanta bartending company to “just bring the liquor” and been told no, here’s why.

What “dry hire” means

Le'Pour ATL is a dry-hire bartending service. Under Georgia law we cannot sell alcohol. You (the host) purchase and own the alcohol; we provide certified staff, equipment, mixers, and service. In practice that means:

• You, the host, buy and own all the alcohol (and usually the ice).
• Your bartending company never sells, buys, or gets reimbursed for alcohol.
• Leftover bottles stay with you.
• No cash bars, no per-drink pricing, no “we provide the liquor.”

Selling alcohol in Georgia requires state and local alcohol licenses tied to a licensed premises. A company that offers to sell you liquor for your private event is a red flag.

Is there a Georgia bartender license?

No. Georgia doesn’t issue a state bartender license; the Department of Revenue licenses businesses, not individual bartenders. So be wary of anyone advertising “licensed bartenders.” What you actually want to see:

• Alcohol-awareness certification such as TIPS or ServSafe Alcohol
• Local pouring permits where required. These are local, per person, and usually renewed yearly. Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Decatur, Johns Creek, Milton, and Cobb and Douglas counties all require them.
• Insurance covering both general liability and liquor liability (general liability alone excludes alcohol). $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is the standard.

Do I need a permit for my party?

Private events that are free to guests generally don’t need a special-event alcohol permit. If you’re selling tickets or selling drinks, that changes: in the City of Atlanta, a public or ticketed event with alcohol may need a Special Events Alcohol Permit. Talk to us before you plan a ticketed event.

Will my venue want a COI?

Almost always. Many venues also ask the host to buy a one-day event liability policy (often $1M or more) naming the venue and bartending company as additional insured. We send our COI within 24 hours of your request.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by city and county and change over time.