Ask the Experts: What to Know When Renewing Your Liquor License in 2025
By: Kelly Allen | Adkison, Need, Allen & Rentrop PLLC
Q: Spring Cleaning is here! What should a Liquor Licensed Business Renew in 2025?
A: In short, every liquor licensee should perform a “spring cleaning” and make sure that their liquor license is in good standing and their employees are properly trained. With the holiday season in the rearview and the summer vacations still ahead, this is the time of year when licensees should have all their ducks in a row!
Periodically, MLCC Enforcement Agents and local law enforcement officers will visit licensed establishments to conduct routine checks of the status of your business’s Liquor License and the required training of employees. Agents can also conduct controlled buy operations to test compliance with the law prohibiting sales to minors. Lately, these visits include all these procedures. It’s best to have your licenses renewed and ready.
A: In short, every liquor licensee should perform a “spring cleaning” and make sure that their liquor license is in good standing and their employees are properly trained. With the holiday season in the rearview and the summer vacations still ahead, this is the time of year when licensees should have all their ducks in a row!
Periodically, MLCC Enforcement Agents and local law enforcement officers will visit licensed establishments to conduct routine checks of the status of your business’s Liquor License and the required training of employees. Agents can also conduct controlled buy operations to test compliance with the law prohibiting sales to minors. Lately, these visits include all these procedures. It’s best to have your licenses renewed and ready.
Understanding the Process of Liquor License Renewals
Every Liquor License in the State of Michigan must be renewed annually by April 30. This is required for active and escrowed Liquor Licenses. This includes Liquor Licenses for which there is a pending transfer to another applicant or Liquor Licenses that have been placed into escrow because a conditional license was issued to, for example, the buyer of your Liquor License
For the first time, ALL Liquor Licenses must be renewed online. Also, most Liquor Licenses can be printed from the renewal portal Renewal starts in March of 2025. This is when the renewal portal opens.
For those who have renewed online in the past, the process should be easy. You should renew with the same e-mail username and password you used in prior years. However, the online renewal portal will ask you to create a new password once you attempt to log in for the first time this year.
If you have not renewed online in the past, you must go to the MLCC Website:
1.Visit www.michigan.gov/llc
2.Click on the Renewal Portal button
It will instruct you how to register your online renewal account. The directions on the website are very good; however, give yourself enough time to register. The earlier, the better. Once you print your Liquor License don’t forget to sign it. Only a person authorized by the MLCC can sign the Liquor License. Then place the Liquor License on the wall under a frame.
Note that sending a paper check to the MLCC will not work. If you need help with the online renewal process, perhaps work with a computer savvy friend or associate. If you still have questions, contact the MLCC by e-mail at [email protected] or call 1-866-813-0011, extension 2, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Every Liquor License in the State of Michigan must be renewed annually by April 30. This is required for active and escrowed Liquor Licenses. This includes Liquor Licenses for which there is a pending transfer to another applicant or Liquor Licenses that have been placed into escrow because a conditional license was issued to, for example, the buyer of your Liquor License
For the first time, ALL Liquor Licenses must be renewed online. Also, most Liquor Licenses can be printed from the renewal portal Renewal starts in March of 2025. This is when the renewal portal opens.
For those who have renewed online in the past, the process should be easy. You should renew with the same e-mail username and password you used in prior years. However, the online renewal portal will ask you to create a new password once you attempt to log in for the first time this year.
If you have not renewed online in the past, you must go to the MLCC Website:
1.Visit www.michigan.gov/llc
2.Click on the Renewal Portal button
It will instruct you how to register your online renewal account. The directions on the website are very good; however, give yourself enough time to register. The earlier, the better. Once you print your Liquor License don’t forget to sign it. Only a person authorized by the MLCC can sign the Liquor License. Then place the Liquor License on the wall under a frame.
Note that sending a paper check to the MLCC will not work. If you need help with the online renewal process, perhaps work with a computer savvy friend or associate. If you still have questions, contact the MLCC by e-mail at [email protected] or call 1-866-813-0011, extension 2, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Investing in Proper Employee Training
Every year, licensees should review the training of their employees in alcohol management. The Liquor Code requires that only “supervisory personnel” be trained and certified by a training company approved by the MLCC. However, the best practice is to have ALL employees who sell or serve alcohol trained and certified. Moreover, it is not enough to have your employees trained if proof of the training is not available to enforcement. You, as the employer, should keep proof of training, meaning valid and unexpired training cards, on site at all times. Make it a habit to keep the trainingcards in the employees’ personnel files. This way, when enforcement pays a visit, the manager or owner on site will have access to the training cards.
Every year, licensees should review the training of their employees in alcohol management. The Liquor Code requires that only “supervisory personnel” be trained and certified by a training company approved by the MLCC. However, the best practice is to have ALL employees who sell or serve alcohol trained and certified. Moreover, it is not enough to have your employees trained if proof of the training is not available to enforcement. You, as the employer, should keep proof of training, meaning valid and unexpired training cards, on site at all times. Make it a habit to keep the trainingcards in the employees’ personnel files. This way, when enforcement pays a visit, the manager or owner on site will have access to the training cards.
It is a violation of the Liquor Code if you do not, at all times, have at least one person on site who is certified and can produce a valid training card. But again, having all employees who sell or serve is absolutely the better practice. This way, the employer can be confident that there is always trained personnel in the building. Further, training all those who sell or serve goes a long way toward 100% compliance with the law.
Every owner, whether you work regularly at the establishment or not, should be trained. While not required by the Liquor Code, the MLCC wants to see that ownership is invested in understanding and following the law. Training programs can be done online or in person. Depending on the size of your workforce, you may consider having your entire staff come to the establishment for an in-person class. That way, you know it is getting done. You can make an event out of it! Have pizza or snacks for the troops. It is likely not a great idea to allow drinking during training, seriously. The MRLA offers ServSafe Alcohol Training, one of the most trusted training programs for responsible alcohol service, with MRLA Members enjoying a 20% discount on ServSafe products. The MRLA can facilitate on-location training at your business. To learn more, visitwww.mrla.org/training.Think of these steps as your “spring cleaning”. It may not be fun, but you will be much better off for it!
Every owner, whether you work regularly at the establishment or not, should be trained. While not required by the Liquor Code, the MLCC wants to see that ownership is invested in understanding and following the law. Training programs can be done online or in person. Depending on the size of your workforce, you may consider having your entire staff come to the establishment for an in-person class. That way, you know it is getting done. You can make an event out of it! Have pizza or snacks for the troops. It is likely not a great idea to allow drinking during training, seriously. The MRLA offers ServSafe Alcohol Training, one of the most trusted training programs for responsible alcohol service, with MRLA Members enjoying a 20% discount on ServSafe products. The MRLA can facilitate on-location training at your business. To learn more, visitwww.mrla.org/training.Think of these steps as your “spring cleaning”. It may not be fun, but you will be much better off for it!
The MRLA has partnered with a strong team of law firms that are industry experts, available for counsel on any legal matters affecting the hospitality industry. MRLA Members get exclusive access to legal help from experts like Kelly Allen of Adkinson, Need, Allen & Rentrop PLLC, with up to 15 FREE minutes of legal consultations with one of our partnering law firms. Click the link below to learn more!
