Bar or bar run by an association
Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
As an association, you would like to have a bar or a bar but you have questions about the rules to follow in this regard. We'll give you the information you need. You can operate a bar permanently if you respect the regulations of the bars. You can temporarily open a refreshment bar in certain circumstances that are exhaustively listed by law.
Temporary bar
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Alcohol-free beverage
You can freely open a temporary bar, if no alcoholic beverages are served.
Beverage with alcohol
In a sports arena (stadium, gym, ...), you cannot sell or distribute alcoholic beverages.
However, temporary derogations may be granted to offer Group 3 alcoholic beverages (i.e. beverages below 18° of alcohol: wine, beer, crème de cassis,...,), and for 48 hours maximum.
You are affected by the exceptions if you are one of the following associations:
- Approved sports associations, up to a maximum of 10 authorizations per year
- Associations organizing tourist events, up to a maximum of 4 authorizations per year
- Associations organizing events of an agricultural nature, up to a maximum of 2 authorizations per year
You must request your derogation from the mayor of the municipality in which the beverage outlet will be located.
General case
In Paris
You must make your request, authorization to hold temporary drinking establishments, exclusively online
Application for authorization to open temporary drinking establishments (in Paris only)
Your request must be addressed to him at least 3 months before the planned date of the event. It must specify the date and nature of the planned event and the operating conditions of the beverage outlet (opening hours, categories of beverages concerned).
In the event of an exceptional occurrence, the request may be made at least 15 days before the expected date.
If you do not comply with the prohibition on forcibly or fraudulently bringing alcoholic beverages into a sports arena, you risk a fine of €7,500 and one year in prison.
The opening of bars and bars does not involve any particular action with the tax administration.
However, the revenues generated by this activity may have to be counted as lucrative (i.e., money-making) revenues. However, they are subject to declaration and taxation:
- from the first euro, if they occupy a preponderant share in the budget of the association,
- or above the €73,518 annual, if incidental.
It must therefore be determined whether the activity can, or cannot, be classified as non-profit making.
You can open a temporary bar at a fair or exhibition and serve any type of beverage there if it meets the following 3 conditions:
- The fair or exhibition is organized by the State, a public authority or a association recognized as being in the public interest
- It received a favorable opinion from the General Commissioner of the exhibition or fair
- It has made at least 15 days in advance a request to the mayor of the municipality concerned, or in Paris, to the Paris police department, to open a temporary drink outlet, accompanied by the favorable opinion of the curator-general of the exhibition or fair.
General case
You can use the following model to request the opening of an associative bar:
Application to open a temporary associative bar in a fair or exhibition
In Paris
You must make your request, authorization to hold temporary drinking establishments, exclusively online
Application for authorization to open temporary drinking establishments (in Paris only)
The opening of bars and bars does not involve any particular action with the tax administration.
However, the revenues generated by this activity may have to be counted as lucrative (i.e., money-making) revenues. However, they are subject to declaration and taxation:
- from the first euro, if they occupy a preponderant share in the budget of the association,
- or above the €73,518 annual, if incidental.
It must therefore be determined whether the activity can, or cannot, be classified as non-profit making.
You can open a temporary bar to sell drinks in groups 1 (soft drinks) and 3 (drinks below 18°) provided that you have obtained the authorization of the mayor of the municipality in which the beverage outlet will be located.
You can getMaximum of 5 annual authorizations.
General case
You can use the following template to apply to open a temporary bar at a sale or public event:
In Paris
You must make your request, authorization to hold temporary drinking establishments, exclusively online
Application for authorization to open temporary drinking establishments (in Paris only)
FYI
in the departments of Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Martinique, the prefect can authorize the sale of drinks of 4me group (drinks of more than 18°) up to a maximum of 4 days per year.
The opening of bars and bars does not involve any particular action with the tax administration.
However, the revenues generated by this activity may have to be counted as lucrative (i.e., money-making) revenues. However, they are subject to declaration and taxation:
- from the first euro, if they occupy a preponderant share in the budget of the association,
- or above the €73,518 annual, if incidental.
It must therefore be determined whether the activity can, or cannot, be classified as non-profit making.
If the temporary bar is reserved for members (associative pot, 3è half-time, reception-buffet, etc.), there is no no particular steps to take, or specific regulations to be followed.
The opening of bars and bars does not involve any particular action with the tax administration.
However, the revenues generated by this activity may have to be counted as lucrative (i.e., money-making) revenues. However, they are subject to declaration and taxation:
- from the first euro, if they occupy a preponderant share in the budget of the association,
- or above the €73,518 annual, if incidental.
It must therefore be determined whether the activity can, or cannot, be classified as non-profit making.
Permanent Bar
You can freely open a permanent bar if no alcoholic beverages are served.
The opening of bars and bars does not involve any particular action with the tax administration.
However, the revenues generated by this activity may have to be counted as lucrative (i.e., money-making) revenues. However, they are subject to declaration and taxation:
- from the first euro, if they occupy a preponderant share in the budget of the association,
- or above the €73,518 annual, if incidental.
It must therefore be determined whether the activity can, or cannot, be classified as non-profit making.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Place open to the public
You can open a permanent bar serving alcoholic drinks on site for 3me category subject to obtaining 3rd category beverage debit license.
Type of beverage | Beverage delivery for consumption on site | Beverage delivery take away | Restaurant |
|---|---|---|---|
Group 1: soft drinks | Over-the-counter | Over-the-counter | Over-the-counter |
Group 3: non-distilled fermented beverages (wine, beer, cider, perry, mead) and natural sweet wines, blackcurrant cream, fruit or vegetable juices containing up to 3° of alcohol, liqueur wine, wine-based aperitif, strawberry liqueurs, raspberries, blackcurrants or cherries containing less than 18° of alcohol | License III, known as restricted license | Small take-away license | Small restaurant license |
Groups 4 and 5: rums, tafias, distilled alcohols and all other alcoholic beverages (gin, vodka, whisky, etc.) | License IV, known as large license or full-service license | Take-away license | Restaurant license |
FYI
the sale of soft drinks is free in all establishments on site or to take away. There is no need for a license or an operating permit.
You must also respect the rules on display, display, hygiene and safety at outlets for drinks.
Place reserved for members
If you open a permanent bar exclusively reserved for your members, you are exempted from the procedure if you meet the following 2 conditions:
- the opening of the bar is not intended to make a profit
- The drinks on offer belong to groups 1 and 3 of the official beverage classification
Otherwise, you are considered to be engaged in a commercial activity and you must have a 3-drink debit licenseme category.
The opening of bars and bars does not involve any particular action with the tax administration.
However, the revenues generated by this activity may have to be counted as lucrative (i.e., money-making) revenues. However, they are subject to declaration and taxation:
- from the first euro, if they occupy a preponderant share in the budget of the association,
- or above the €73,518 annual, if incidental.
It must therefore be determined whether the activity can, or cannot, be classified as non-profit making.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Classification of beverages
Opening, changing and transferring a beverage outlet
Temporary beverage outlets
Article L3335-4: Prohibition of physical activities and sports establishments
Temporary derogations in establishments engaged in physical activities and sports
Articles L332-3 to L332-5: safety of sporting events
Private circles
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of Culture and Communication