These information pages can help you get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your experiences on Airbnb. These pages include summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to government resources that you may find helpful.
Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your experience, we encourage you to check with official sources or seek legal advice.
Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the laws or procedures have not changed recently.*
Safe experiences do not involve providing alcohol to a guest:
In addition, if you are hosting an experience with alcohol in a public venue or outdoor space, make sure it is permissible to consume alcohol in that venue and consider whether a permit is required.
To sell alcohol to your guests, you need a license under the Massachusetts Liquor Control Act or you need to hire a licensed caterer. Note that, for a variety of reasons, licenses are not generally available to sell alcohol at a private residence. Selling alcohol includes situations where:
The Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and City of Boston Licensing Board do not prohibit alcohol to be served at private, invitation-only events in private residences where there is no direct or indirect charge for that alcohol.
However, keep in mind that any direct or indirect charge for alcohol without a license or permit may be a violation of Massachusetts law. For example, an obvious indirect charge for alcohol—charging one price for a meal without alcohol while charging a higher price for a meal with alcohol—could be considered a prohibited sale. A charge for an experience that includes access to alcohol also could be considered a prohibited sale.
Generally speaking, this is a tricky area and we encourage you to check with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and speak to a lawyer to make sure you are correctly interpreting these provisions and are following your local laws.
You would be unlikely to run afoul of regulations if you take your guests to your favorite local bars or restaurants that are licensed under the Liquor Control Act.
Hosting a BYO experience where guests bring and consume their own alcohol may not require a license under the Liquor Control Act. However, you should be aware that Massachusetts and Boston authorities regulate BYO activities in businesses. The City of Boston generally requires that businesses serving food have a BYOB permit to allow customers to bring their own alcohol.
We encourage you to check with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and City of Boston Licensing Board and speak to a lawyer to make sure you are correctly interpreting and following your local laws.
The Liquor Control Act does not apply to the manufacture or storage of alcoholic beverages by a person for his own private use. Therefore, you likely do not need a liquor license to teach guests how to brew their own beer. However, you may not sell guests any of your home-brewed beer.
We encourage you to check with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and speak to a lawyer to make sure you are correctly interpreting and following your local laws.
* Airbnb is not responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites (including any links to legislation and regulations).