Currently, hosting events at private residences while alcohol is given away means failure to comply with state law. Local musician and event host Joey Hendrickson discovered this the hard way last year when his house concert series known as “The Parlor” was raided and shut down due to alcohol being handed out. Ohio House Bill 574 revises those current laws and awaits approval by the Commerce and Labor Committee.
“In 2021, after an undercover police investigation of a benefit concert I put on Facebook, police searched my home, put some cans of beer from my refrigerator into a cardboard box, and issued me four class A misdemeanor charges,” said Hendrickson. “I’ve now paid more than $5,000 in attorney fees and criminal fines and am currently under three years of probation to not hand beer to a friend in my own home.”
The Ohio House was introduced to HB 574 on February 15 by representatives Kristin Boggs and Bill Seitz. The new bill modifies the Ohio revised Code for the sale of alcohol at events in private residences.
“House concerts are becoming more and more popular with people that really want to connect with the artist,” said local musician Eric Ahlteen. “It’s nice to be able to have beer or wine while being safe inside a home enjoying music. The people that attend house concerts are certainly not a drunk or rowdy bunch. They are simply of age, music lovers.”
In December, legislation was presented to update the old “Keeper of a Place” law. Currently, the law prohibits giving away alcohol without a license, but the law makes exemptions for events deemed charitable, benevolent or political. No person at the event can sell or give away alcohol without a permit.
“We throw the words ‘common sense’ around a lot when we talk about legislation, but I truly don’t know of any other bill that is more common sense than this one,” said Boggs. “No one over the age of 21 believes they are breaking the law by providing alcohol to another person over the age of 21, in the privacy of their own home. Striking down archaic legislation that no longer reflects the values of the people in this state so that you can serve alcohol to over age guests in your home is the epitome of common sense reform.”
The new bill clarifies event rules, as follows:
- All profits go towards fundraising benefits, not individual profit purposes.
- If the benefit is for an individual, it must be for a charitable, benevolent or political purpose.
- Allows beer and intoxicating liquor to be present and handed out at the event, but if a person is intoxicated the host must cut off alcohol to that individual.
- Increasing the number of people allowed to attend from 50 to 100.
- Any beer, wine, or mixed beverage must be purchased from an Ohio liquor permit holder.
- Events don’t go over 12 hours, all alcoholic beverages are cut off between 2:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. and no person under 21 can purchase or consume alcohol at an event.
- Hosts can have events up to five times a year.
If passed, the new law would require a host to present receipts of purchases to the division only if spirituous liquor activity is presented. HB 574 has passed its second hearing and awaits a third by the Commerce and Labor Committee.
“I’m in support of HB 574, which is aligned to the normal culture of home gatherings,” said Hendrickson. “I hope that HB 574 is passed, so Ohio friends can gather in our homes to benefit artists, politicians, and causes we believe in.”
Editor’s Note: In a follow up, Hendrickson confirmed with the Legislative Service Commission that “a permit will not be required to sell alcohol at a house concert that is operated within the guidelines of the bill.”