Who is licensed by the bar association? (it's not liquor licenses)

Last updated 2026-07-26

Does the bar association license bars or restaurants?

No. A bar association, like the Florida Bar or the State Bar of California, licenses attorneys to practice law. It has nothing to do with serving alcohol. The word "bar" in "bar association" traces back to the physical railing in old English courtrooms that separated lawyers from the public, not the kind of bar that pours drinks. It's a coincidence of language, but it's a common enough mix-up that it's worth clearing up before you go any further in your planning. If you're opening a restaurant or bar and searching for how to get licensed to serve alcohol, the agency you actually want is your state's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) authority, sometimes called a liquor control board, alcohol beverage commission, or department of revenue in states that fold alcohol licensing into tax administration. Every state has one, and the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) handles the federal side (basic permits for producers and importers, not typical retail on-premise licenses), as described in TTB's industry circular on permit requirements under 27 CFR Part 1 ^[1]. So if you typed "who is licensed by the bar association" while researching how to open a bar, the honest answer is: lawyers. Nobody who serves you a drink got their license from a bar association. For the actual state guide to who regulates alcohol where you're opening, start with your state's ABC page rather than any legal licensing body.

Can anyone take the bar exam?

Not literally anyone, but the bar exam is open to a wider group than most people assume. In nearly every U.S. state, the basic requirement is graduation from an ABA-accredited law school (a J.D.), passage of character and fitness review, and payment of exam fees. A handful of states, including California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, allow some path to sit for the bar exam without a traditional J.D., usually through law office study or reading the law under a supervising attorney, though these paths are narrow and rarely used. California's rule allowing law office study in lieu of law school is set out in California Business and Professions Code section 6060, which lists alternative legal education paths that satisfy bar admission requirements ^[2]. You do not need a law degree, and you do not go through a bar association, to get a liquor license. This is a separate regulatory track entirely, run by state ABC agencies, not by any bar association or court system. If your search landed you here because the words "bar" and "license" got tangled together, this is the fork in the road: legal licensing (bar exam, bar association) goes one way, alcohol licensing (ABC agency, liquor license) goes the other.

How do you get a liquor license?

You apply through your state's ABC agency (or in some states, through the county or municipality first, then the state). The general path looks like this everywhere, even though the details, forms, and fees differ by state: 1. Confirm the license type you need (beer and wine only, full liquor, restaurant-specific, club license, etc.) with your state ABC authority. 2. Check whether your state uses a quota system that caps the number of licenses per county or population, which can mean a waitlist or a transfer market instead of a new license. 3. Get your local zoning and health department approvals lined up, since most states require proof of a compliant location before they'll issue. 4. Submit the state application with your business entity documents, lease, floor plan, and background check paperwork for owners and (in many states) managers. 5. Pay the application fee and, if approved, the issuance fee, which in quota states can be dramatically higher than the base application fee. 6. Wait for local posting periods, public notice requirements, and any protest windows, which some states mandate before final approval. Timelines vary enormously. Some states process straightforward beer-and-wine restaurant licenses in a matter of weeks; others, especially quota-controlled liquor licenses in dense urban counties, can take many months, and transfers can take longer than new issuances if there's a lien or litigation history attached to the license. Confirm current processing times with your state ABC authority before you set a hard opening date around it.

How can I get a liquor license if my state has a quota?

If your state caps liquor licenses by population or county (common in states like Florida and Georgia, tied to a formula, often something like one license per fixed number of residents), a new license may simply not be available where you want to open. Florida's quota formula for what the statute calls "quota licenses" is set out in Florida Statutes section 561.20, which ties the number of available licenses in each county to population counts ^[3]. In that case your real options are usually: apply for the state's periodic drawing or lottery if one exists, buy an existing license on the private transfer market from a business that's closing or downsizing, or choose a license type that isn't quota-restricted (some states exempt restaurants that meet a minimum food-sales percentage, or offer separate beer/wine-only licenses outside the quota). Quota licenses that trade privately can run anywhere from the low five figures to well over six figures depending on the county and how scarce licenses are there. This is where a lot of new owners get surprised, because the state application fee might be modest, but the market price to actually acquire a transferable quota license is the real cost. Always verify current quota status and availability for your specific county with your state ABC authority before you sign a lease assuming a license will be available.

How much is a liquor license?

State application/filing fee	Low hundreds to a few thousand dollars
Non-quota full liquor license (state-issued)	Roughly $1,000 to $15,000
Quota-state transferable license (market price)	Tens of thousands to $150,000+
Local/county license or occupational fee	Varies widely by jurisdiction
Background check / fingerprinting per person	Roughly $50 to $150	These figures are directional, not quotes. Get the exact number for your license class and county from your state ABC authority before you build a pro forma around it.

There's no single national number, because every state sets its own fee schedule, and many states also let counties and cities add their own local fees on top. As a rough shape of the range: non-quota beer and wine licenses in many states run from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand in state fees. Full liquor licenses in non-quota states often run from roughly $1,000 to $15,000 in state issuance and renewal fees. Quota-state full liquor licenses, where you're buying an existing license on the transfer market rather than getting a new one from the state, can run anywhere from the low tens of thousands to $150,000 or more in high-demand counties. On top of the license fee itself, budget for a background check or fingerprinting fee per owner and manager, a local business license, health permit fees, and often a bond requirement in some states. None of these numbers should be treated as fixed. Confirm current fee schedules directly on your state ABC authority's licensing or fee page, since these get revised and vary by license class within the same state. | Cost component | Typical range (varies by state) |

How much is a liquor license in Florida?

Florida issues several license series through its Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and the two most common for restaurants and bars are the 4COP quota license (full liquor, on-premise) and the SRX license for restaurants that meet minimum food-sales thresholds. Florida's quota licenses are capped by county population under the formula in Florida Statutes section 561.20, and in many counties all available quota licenses are already issued and only tradeable on the private market ^[3]. Because of that quota structure, the state issuance fee for a new 4COP is only part of the picture. If your county has no quota licenses left, which is common in Florida's more populated counties, you'd be buying an existing license from a current holder, and market prices for those transferable Florida quota licenses can run from the tens of thousands into six figures depending on the county. Florida's SRX license (for qualifying restaurants) sidesteps the quota system entirely and generally has a lower, more predictable state fee, but it comes with an ongoing requirement that food sales stay above the state's set percentage threshold, as defined under Florida Statutes section 561.20(2)(a) for special restaurant licenses ^[3]. Confirm current Florida license fees, quota availability by county, and SRX eligibility rules directly on the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco's licensing pages before budgeting. If you're researching Florida specifically, note again that the Florida Bar (the attorney licensing body) has zero role in any of this. If you were searching for the Florida Bar itself, that's a separate lookup entirely, see the Florida Bar overview or the Florida Bar member search tool for attorney licensing, which is unrelated to alcohol licensing.

How do I get a bartending license?

Most states do not require a special "bartending license" to pour drinks, but a growing number require a responsible beverage service (RBS) or alcohol seller-server training certification for anyone serving or selling alcohol. This is different from the establishment's liquor license, which the business holds; the individual certification is about the server or bartender personally. Requirements vary a lot. Some states mandate certification for all servers and bartenders (for example, several states require completion of a state-approved RBS course within a set window of hire), some only require it for certain license types or in certain counties, and some states have no state-level requirement at all, leaving it up to individual employers or local jurisdictions. Oregon's requirement is a useful example: Oregon Revised Statutes section 471.406 requires alcohol servers to complete a service permit training program approved by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission ^[4]. Courses typically run a few hours online or in person, cover checking ID, recognizing intoxication, and liability basics, and cost somewhere in the range of $10 to $40 depending on the provider and state-approval requirements. Check your specific state ABC authority's server training page to find out if certification is mandatory where you're opening, which state-approved providers count, and how often it needs renewal. This is a separate requirement from the business's liquor license itself, and missing it on your staff can create compliance exposure even when the business license is in perfect order.

Can you serve alcohol without a liquor license?

No, not for a business selling or serving alcohol to the public. Operating without the required state and local license is illegal virtually everywhere in the U.S. and can carry criminal penalties, civil fines, and forced closure, on top of making it impossible to get licensed later without disclosing the violation. Florida Statutes section 562.12, for example, makes it a criminal offense to sell alcoholic beverages without a license, and states differ on exact penalty structures, but unlicensed sale of alcohol is treated seriously almost universally because alcohol sales are a state-regulated, tax-generating activity tied to public safety concerns ^[3]. There are narrow carve-outs in many states for specific situations, such as certain private events, some nonprofit fundraisers with a temporary permit, or BYOB setups where the establishment doesn't sell alcohol at all but allows patrons to bring their own (rules on BYOB legality and any "corkage" permit requirements vary by state and even by city). None of these carve-outs cover a restaurant or bar that wants to sell drinks off a menu; that always requires a license. If you're mid-buildout and worried about a gap between your opening date and license approval, ask your state ABC authority about temporary or provisional permits, which some states offer for businesses with a license application pending. Don't assume you can pour "just for now" while paperwork is in process; confirm it's actually allowed first.

How do I obtain a liquor license as a new business?

Start with the license type, not the paperwork. Before you fill out a single form, nail down what kind of establishment you're running (full-service restaurant, bar with minimal food, brewery taproom, private club) because that determines which license class you're even eligible for, and license classes often have very different quota rules, fees, and food-sales requirements attached. From there, work backward from your opening date. Liquor license approval is one of the slower-moving pieces of opening a bar or restaurant, and it's also one of the pieces most likely to have a waitlist, protest period, or transfer negotiation attached to it in quota states. A realistic plan means confirming with your state ABC authority (not a general web search) what the current processing timeline looks like for your specific license type and county, then building your lease, buildout, and hiring schedule around that number instead of the other way around. This is exactly the kind of back-planning problem where a structured timeline helps more than a checklist does, since the state fee schedule, local zoning sign-off, and any quota transfer negotiation all need to land in the right order relative to your target opening date. If you want a state-specific, back-planned timeline built from your target opening date rather than piecing one together from a dozen agency pages, LiquorReady's $199 one-time State Liquor License Roadmap walks through exactly that sequencing for your state and license type.

How do I obtain a liquor licence (outside the U.S.)?

Spelling aside, if you're asking about a country outside the U.S., the process is structurally similar but run by a different body entirely: most countries license alcohol sales through a national or regional excise authority, a local council licensing office, or in federal systems, a provincial/state equivalent (Canada's provincial liquor boards, for instance, work much like U.S. state ABC agencies but are separate legal systems). U.S. state ABC guidance does not apply outside the U.S., and this article focuses on U.S. state and federal licensing only. If you're opening in the U.S. and just used the British/Canadian spelling out of habit, the process is the same one covered throughout this article: start with your state ABC authority, confirm the license class and quota status, and check TTB requirements if you're also producing, importing, or wholesaling alcohol rather than just serving it on-premise ^[1].

What's the difference between state and federal alcohol licensing?

The federal TTB handles permits tied to production, importation, and wholesale distribution of alcohol, things like brewer's notices, winery permits, distilled spirits plant permits, and importer's basic permits. These federal permit requirements are set out under 27 CFR Part 1, which governs basic permits under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act ^[1]. If you're opening a restaurant or bar that just buys finished product from a distributor and serves it to customers, you generally don't need a TTB permit at all; your license comes entirely from the state (and often county/city) level. Where this gets confusing is for combined operations, like a brewpub that both brews on-site and serves at a bar, or a distillery with a tasting room. Those businesses often need both a TTB permit for the production side and a state on-premise license for the retail/serving side, and the two applications run on separate timelines through separate agencies. If that's your model, confirm with both TTB and your state ABC authority early, since production permits at the federal level can add real time to your opening timeline that a straightforward bar or restaurant wouldn't face.

How does a liquor license transfer work?

A transfer moves an existing license from one holder to another, either because a business is closing, changing ownership, or relocating, and it's the primary path to a full liquor license in any state where the quota is maxed out. Transfers are not automatic just because you bought the underlying business; the state ABC authority still has to approve the new owner through essentially the same background check, financial disclosure, and (often) local notice process as a brand-new application. Florida's transfer requirements, including the requirement that the division approve any change in the person entitled to a license, are set out in Florida Statutes section 561.32 ^[3]. What makes transfers slower or riskier than they look on paper is the due diligence on the license itself: outstanding liens, unpaid taxes tied to the license, pending violations, or litigation between the buyer and seller can all stall or kill a transfer. Get the license's compliance history directly from your state ABC authority before you put money down, more than from the seller's representation. If you're considering a transfer instead of a new application, that's a meaningfully different process to plan around, and it's worth reading up on quota and transfer mechanics specifically rather than assuming it works like a fresh application with less paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bar association the same thing as a liquor licensing agency?

No. A bar association (like the Florida Bar or State Bar of California) licenses attorneys to practice law. Liquor licenses for restaurants and bars come from a state's Alcoholic Beverage Control agency or equivalent. The shared word "bar" is a coincidence of English legal history, not a shared regulatory function.

How much is a liquor license?

It depends entirely on the state, county, and license type. Non-quota beer/wine licenses can run a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars in state fees; full liquor licenses in quota states, bought on the transfer market, can run from the tens of thousands to $150,000 or more. Confirm exact figures with your state ABC authority.

How much is a liquor license in Florida specifically?

Florida's 4COP full-liquor quota licenses vary widely by county because of the population-based quota formula in Florida Statutes section 561.20; in counties with no remaining quota, buyers pay market price for an existing license, often tens of thousands to six figures. Florida's SRX restaurant license sidesteps the quota but requires meeting a minimum food-sales percentage. Confirm current fees with Florida's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

How do I get a bartending license?

Most states don't require a formal "bartending license," but many require responsible beverage service (RBS) training certification for servers and bartenders, such as Oregon's permit requirement under ORS 471.406. Courses are usually a few hours online or in person and cost roughly $10 to $40. Check your state ABC authority's server training page to see if it's mandatory where you work.

Can anyone take the bar exam?

Not literally anyone. Most states require graduation from an ABA-accredited law school plus a character and fitness review. A few states (California, Vermont, Virginia, Washington) allow narrow alternative paths like law office study, such as under California Business and Professions Code section 6060, but these are rare routes, not open-to-all options.

Can you serve alcohol without a liquor license?

No, not for a business selling to the public. Operating without a required license is illegal in every U.S. state, for example under Florida Statutes section 562.12, and can bring fines, criminal charges, and forced closure. Narrow exceptions exist for certain private events or licensed BYOB setups, but a restaurant or bar selling drinks off a menu always needs a license.

How do I get a liquor license as a new restaurant or bar owner?

Confirm your license type and quota status with your state ABC authority, line up local zoning and health approvals, then submit the state application with entity documents, lease, and background checks for owners and managers. Timelines and fees vary hugely by state and county, so confirm both before setting your opening date.

How do I obtain a liquor license if my county has hit its quota?

If your state caps licenses by county population and the quota is full, your options are usually a state lottery/drawing if one exists, buying an existing license on the private transfer market, or choosing a non-quota license type (some states exempt qualifying restaurants). Confirm current quota status with your state ABC authority before signing a lease.

What's the difference between a state ABC agency and a bar association?

A state ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) agency regulates and licenses alcohol sales, wholesale, and production within that state. A bar association licenses and disciplines attorneys. They are entirely separate systems with no overlapping authority, despite the shared word "bar."

Do I need a federal license to serve alcohol in my restaurant?

Usually not. The federal TTB licenses producers, importers, and wholesalers under permit rules in 27 CFR Part 1, not typical on-premise servers. If you're only buying finished product from a distributor and serving it, your license comes from your state ABC authority, not TTB. Brewpubs or distilleries with tasting rooms may need both a TTB permit and a state license.

How long does it take to get a liquor license?

It varies enormously by state and license type. Simple non-quota beer/wine licenses can take a few weeks; full liquor licenses in quota-controlled counties, especially transfers with lien or litigation history, can take many months. Confirm current processing timelines directly with your state ABC authority before committing to an opening date.

What does a liquor license transfer involve?

A transfer moves an existing license to a new owner and requires state ABC approval under rules like Florida Statutes section 561.32, generally through a similar background check and disclosure process as a new application. Buyers should check the license's compliance history for liens, unpaid taxes, or pending violations before finalizing, since these can stall or void a transfer.

Sources

1. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 27 CFR Part 1, Basic Permit Requirements: TTB issues federal basic permits for alcohol production, importation, and wholesale, separate from state retail on-premise licensing
2. California Business and Professions Code Section 6060: Bar exam eligibility generally requires an ABA-accredited law degree, with California allowing alternative paths like law office study under section 6060
3. Florida Statutes Section 561.20, Limitation Upon Number of Licenses Issued: Florida issues quota-based full liquor licenses (4COP) capped by county population formula, and separately criminalizes unlicensed alcohol sales and governs license transfers
4. Oregon Revised Statutes Section 471.406, Alcohol Server Education: Oregon requires alcohol servers to complete a state-approved service permit training program
5. Florida Statutes Section 561.32, Transfer of Licenses: Florida requires state division approval before a liquor license can be transferred to a new owner