I work for a national brand hotel chain in Michigan. Right now there is a convention in town and my manager has set up tables in the lobby with FREE cans of beer available for the 'guests of the convention' but they are there 24 hours and nobody is taking identification to see if the drinkers are of age. Any guest or person who walks into our lobby at any time has access. I know you cannot even SELL alcohol in Michigan after 2:00am. This just seems illegal to me and I don't want to be the one who gets some huge fine if police happen by and I'm the one working the desk! So my question is: Is it illegal to distribute free alcohol in a place of business in Michigan? Especially when the distribution isn't being monitored?

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Originally Posted by dml_4122

I work for a national brand hotel chain in Michigan. Right now there is a convention in town and my manager has set up tables in the lobby with FREE cans of beer available for the 'guests of the convention' but they are there 24 hours and nobody is taking identification to see if the drinkers are of age. Any guest or person who walks into our lobby at any time has access. I know you cannot even SELL alcohol in Michigan after 2:00am. This just seems illegal to me and I don't want to be the one who gets some huge fine if police happen by and I'm the one working the desk! So my question is: Is it illegal to distribute free alcohol in a place of business in Michigan? Especially when the distribution isn't being monitored?

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It IS illegal to provide alcohol to minors and it sounds like no one is getting proofed - you would have to contact either the Police or the Michigan Alcohol Control Board.

I can find nothing about "free" alcohol, other than at private parties.