People throwing parties or hosting events over the summer should be aware of the territory's liquor laws so they don't unintentionally break them, a liquor corporation official cautions.

"What we really try to get people to do is call us and we we'll find a way to make their event work,” Virginia Labelle, the Yukon Liquor Corp.'s vice-president, said Friday. "Even if the answer is no, at least they know where they stand.”

She noted that many people hosting ticketed events don't realize they can't serve alcohol, nor can they invite guests to bring their own drinks.

She used the example of the Home Routes concert series, which presents musicians in people's homes.

Guests pay an entry fee, and in some instances, have been told they can bring their own drinks, she said. This is a no-no under the liquor regulations, as is giving drinks away for free to paying guests.

"That's basically selling the alcohol through the price of admission,” Labelle said.

Nor can people hosting a private party on their own property sell alcohol, even if it's only to cover the cost of the booze.

That means the classic keg party strategy of asking guests to throw five bucks in the pot and then drink their fill is "technically illegal,” Labelle said.

"It's a big concern for people who are having a wedding,” Labelle added. "Often people just want to recoup their costs. They aren't trying to make any money.

"... In that case, I would suggest looking at getting a non-profit to (run the bar).”

Non-profit societies are the only bodies which can get event-specific licences to sell liquor in a public place; Labelle noted that once a person starts selling tickets to an event being held on private property, it becomes a "public place” under the act.

As long as the society has the permission of the property owner and can meet all the health and safety regulations (the number of bathrooms is a biggie), getting a licence to sell drinks is no problem, she said.

Having an event at a venue which already has its own liquor licence, such as a hotel or restaurant, sidesteps all these concerns.

Labelle also cautioned those planning to host small festivals throughout the summer to understand their responsibilities.

Even if the hosts tell guests it is a dry event, they are still responsible if a liquor inspector or RCMP officer comes to the event and sees that people have brought their own booze.

According to Labelle, there will be four full-time liquor inspectors working across the Yukon this summer, as well as the Mounties, who are named as inspectors under the Liquor Act.