(a) If alcoholic liquors are to be sold during a gathering of persons, the manager or person in charge of such gathering, or the owner, tenant or person in charge of the premises in which the gathering is being held, must obtain 1 of the types of gathering licenses provided for in this section. Either of said licenses shall permit consumption of alcohol on the premises where sold and shall permit sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises where sold by way of a raffle or auction, live or silent, so long as the amount of alcohol sold for consumption off of the premises where sold does not exceed 10 gallons (or 38 liters) in a single day.
(b) There shall be 2 types of gathering licenses which may be granted hereunder:
(1) Gathering License — Group. — The manager or person in charge of a gathering of persons at which alcoholic liquors are to be sold shall apply for a group type gathering license, which license, if granted, shall be valid only for the time, and at the location, specified in the application therefor. A group gathering license shall not be required if the said gathering is being held on premises which are validly licensed under a biennial premises gathering license issued pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(2) Gathering License — Biennial Premises. — The owner, tenant or person in charge of the premises, other than a residence, on which gatherings of persons are held, may apply for a biennial premises type gathering license, which license shall be valid for the entire 2 years for gatherings of persons at the location specified in the application therefor.
(c) A holder of a gathering license may purchase alcoholic liquors for sale at a gathering of persons from either retailers or importers and such retailers and importers shall be permitted to make deliveries to persons holding gathering licenses. A holder of a gathering license granted pursuant to this section shall be exempt from paying the application process fee as provided in subsection (x) of § 554 of this title.
(d) For purposes of this section only, the price paid for alcoholic liquors to be sold at a gathering of persons licensed under this section shall be a price agreed upon between the said licensee and the retailer or importer from whom said alcoholic liquors are purchased. It is permissible for a retailer or importer to donate some or all of the liquor to the gathering licensee so long as a license has been granted for the gathering by the Commissioner prior to the donation.
(e) Any person holding a biennial premises gathering license granted hereunder must report each gathering of persons to be held in its facilities to the Commissioner, which report may be made in person, in writing, or by telephone and the report must be received by the Commissioner not later than 12:
(f) Any person holding a gathering license of either type granted hereunder who has purchased alcoholic liquors for sale at a gathering of persons may return any unopened bottles so purchased to the licensee from whom they were purchased and shall receive therefor the amount paid for each said bottle, so long as such return is made within 30 days of the date of the gathering for which they were purchased. A biennial premises type gathering licensee shall not be required to return bottles it has purchased for sale during such gathering, but may store them in a suitable storage facility for sale at a future gathering of persons to be held within its facilities.
(g) All holders of gathering licenses hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions on the hours of sale of alcoholic liquors set forth in § 709(c) of this title and to the prohibitions of sales to minors set forth in § 708 of this title.
(h) It shall not be necessary to obtain a license to dispense alcoholic liquors at a gathering of persons if no alcoholic liquors are to be sold at that gathering of persons. Importers may sell and deliver beer directly to persons for dispensing at a gathering of persons and not for resale.
Structure Delaware Code
Subchapter II. Purchase, Sale and Dispensing
§ 511. General licensing requirements.
§ 512C. Microbreweries; license; alternating premises.
§ 512F. Temporary large events.
§ 512G. Shipment of alcoholic beverages between commonly-owned entities.
§ 513. Sale of beer and wine for consumption on premises of tavern.
§ 514. Gathering licenses; consumption on premises.
§ 515. Sale to members of club and multiple activity club.
§ 515A. Licenses for bottle clubs.
§ 516. Consumption off premises of hotel, restaurant, club, store or taproom.
§ 518. Physicians, dentists, veterinarians and medical institutions.
§ 519. Hospital; retention and use.
§ 520. Clergymen; wine for sacramental purposes.
§ 521. Temporary license to sell by the glass.
§ 522. Application for license to purchase for resale.
§ 523. Application by partnership or corporation; liability for fines or costs.