Before the tasting
- Limit attendance to adults 21 and older in the United States.
- Check local furnishing, serving, and social-host rules.
- Do not sell pours or admission without every required license.
- Arrange an unimpaired driver, ride, transit, or overnight stay before the first pour.
- Put appealing alcohol-free drinks beside the tasting setup.
- Serve food without implying that it makes driving safe.
During the tasting
- Use measured pours and a fixed number of samples.
- Never run drinking games, races, or mandatory toasts.
- Do not pressure someone to explain why they are not drinking.
- Offer spit cups and normalize unfinished samples.
- Give alcohol-free participation the same glassware and attention.
- End service if someone’s behavior causes concern.
Before anyone leaves
Ask directly how each guest is getting home. Never use elapsed time, coffee, food, a shower, or an online calculator as proof that someone can drive. The CDC recommends arranging alternative transportation or a trusted designated driver who will not drink.
A note on scope
Beacon & Barrel provides general educational information, not medical or legal advice. Laws and individual circumstances vary. If someone is hard to wake or you believe there may be an emergency, call emergency services immediately.