Any event where alcohol is being served is a risky event. For all events where alcohol will be served, you’ll likely want to verify the entity providing and serving the alcohol not only has a liquor license but also liquor liability insurance. It’s common for chapters to confuse these documents or believe they are interchangeable, but while they sound alike, they mean two very different things for your organization.

Liquor liability insurance offers financial protection when alcohol is involved in an incident or claim. If someone is injured during a chapter’s event, and it’s determined there was negligence in how alcohol was served to the individual, this coverage steps in to help protect the organization by covering legal fees and other financial consequences related to the claim.

A liquor license is a document obtained from the state granting the venue, business or individual permission to serve and/or sell alcohol. Every state has established a division that licenses all venues and individuals. This agency or division regulates every aspect of serving alcohol, from who can pour it to how the business operates. In short, the license is what makes it legal for a venue or vendor to serve at all. You will typically find a copy of a license posted in plain view at the establishment.

Here’s the key takeaway: the license grants permission to serve, while the insurance protects against what happens after. It’s an easy pair to mix up, but they are not interchangeable. Liquor liability is separate coverage from general liability and carries its own separate limit of liability. While we always recommend using only businesses that hold a current liquor license, it is equally, if not more, important to confirm the vendor or venue carries adequate liquor liability insurance coverage. Before your next event, make sure your third-party vendor can show you both: a valid liquor license and proof of liquor liability coverage. MJ Sorority recommends liquor liability coverage be a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence.

We are seeing confusion between the two documents. Why? Perhaps it’s because they sound similar or feel like maybe they could be covered on the same document. Or, maybe a venue sent you the wrong documentation and told you it was what you need. Or, potentially the contact with the venue, caterer or entity providing the alcohol doesn’t know the difference. A final reason we see confusion is when an entity doesn’t have liquor liability coverage and they assume you are looking for the license. As a reminder, the preference is to always work with venues who carry at least $1,000,000 in liquor liability coverage.

Knowing the difference is important to protect your organization. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Want to go deeper?

October might be the busiest month on the chapter calendar. Homecoming, fall formals, Halloween, philanthropy events, and parent weekends often all land in the same few weeks, and the chapter house is running at full speed. In this issue:

Read the whole thing.

September Is National Preparedness Month — Is Your Chapter Ready? Read September’s News & Notes to learn more.

Chapter houses are about to be full again. Before the semester picks up speed, it’s the perfect moment to revisit a few risk management basics — the everyday stuff that’s easy to overlook but makes a real difference when something goes wrong. This month, we’re covering lightning safety, mold reminders after the summer months, food allergy planning, the employee-vs-contractor question that trips up so many house corporations, and a graphic with recruitment safety reminders.

Read August’s News & Notes.

Summer is the perfect time for chapters to pause and check in — on the people who support your chapter, the processes that keep it running smoothly, and the systems that protect your house before recruitment and fall move-in arrive. This month we’re revisiting three risk management staples, sharing a new position paper on aesthetic services at chapter events, and highlighting a real chapter story about the value of leak detection technology.

Read July’s News & Notes.

As summer begins, many house corporations and chapters shift their focus from the busy academic year to property projects and planning ahead for fall events. June also marks the start of hurricane season, making it an ideal time to review emergency plans, assess property readiness, and ensure volunteers understand their responsibilities when making decisions that affect chapter facilities and operations.

In this month’s newsletter, we’re sharing practical guidance on preparing for hurricane season, navigating property repairs after a loss, managing risk when partnering with other organizations, and understanding how Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance can help protect volunteers when governance decisions are challenged.

Read June’s News & Notes.

As organizations transition into the summer months, early summer is an ideal time to focus on prevention, planning, and preparing chapter facilities for the return of members in the fall.

In this month’s News & Notes, we’re resharing our Summer Planning Bulletin that we sent out a few weeks ago that has some great resources to make the most of the summer season. We’re also highlighting several areas where proactive attention can help reduce risk exposure and support long-term stability, including roof inspections and preventative maintenance, two-factor authentication, and mental health awareness. We’re also addressing a frequently asked question from chapters: does a chapter house need a live-in house director?

Read May’s News & Notes.

A special edition newsletter from MJ Sorority to help you make the most of the summer season that covers shares timely planning tips, reminders, and resources to help chapters and volunteers use the summer months to reduce risk, stay organized, and set themselves up for a smoother year ahead.

As the academic year winds down, we tend to see the same patterns: minor maintenance problems becoming bigger ones, contracts getting signed without a close read, and informal practices—like porch pickups—creating unexpected risk. We’re also seeing an uptick in claims tied to unofficial housing, making this a good time to revisit expectations and daily habits that can quietly create exposure over time.

In this month’s News & Notes, we’re sharing practical reminders to help you stay ahead of those issues, from drain and sewer care that can help prevent costly backups to leak detection, smart home tools, a straightforward summer closing checklist, and contract basics.

Read April’s News & Notes.

As we move into spring, we also enter the start of severe weather season, a time when we typically see an uptick in both property and liability claims. Hail and wind events can quickly expose vulnerabilities in chapter facilities, while increased activity in and around the house can introduce additional liability considerations that may not always be top of mind.

In this month’s News & Notes, we’re taking a closer look at two areas where we continue to see losses occur: severe convective storms impacting chapter properties, and premises liability exposures related to how chapter houses are used, particularly when it comes to rentals, third-party access, and informal arrangements like porch pickups.

While these risks are different, the takeaway is the same: preparation matters. The steps taken before an incident, whether that is a storm or a liability claim, often have a direct impact on how smoothly recovery and resolution unfold.

From a practical standpoint, that includes:

At MJ Sorority, we focus on helping sorority chapters and house corporations stay prepared, not just protected. We work with top-tier insurance carriers who understand the complexities of sorority housing and the sorority experience, and we advocate for our clients throughout the process, from coverage development to claim resolution.

As you read this month’s articles, we encourage you to consider where a few intentional steps now can help reduce uncertainty later, both in preventing losses and in navigating them if they occur.

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As winter winds down, now is the perfect time to check in on chapter operations and prepare for the busy spring season. From ensuring your facilities are weather-ready to planning safe, compliant events, a little proactive planning goes a long way.

In this issue, we cover roof care after winter, why reporting all property damage matters, and tips for planning safe, compliant spring events to keep members and chapter homes protected. Read the whole thing.

A resilient year doesn’t start with a claim or a crisis. It starts with clear expectations, smart planning, and a strong understanding of who is in your corner. As we head into the new year, we’re encouraging chapters and housing organizations to think about risk management as part of their day-to-day operations—not something that only comes into focus when there’s a problem.

MJ Sorority’s role is to be your advocate and advisor, not just the group that places your insurance. While insurance carriers make the final underwriting decisions, our job is to help you understand those requirements, prepare for them, and make informed choices that support your organization over the long term. We work alongside you throughout the year to reduce surprises and strengthen your overall risk position.

This January issue of News and Notes focuses on building that foundation—so you can move into the year ahead with confidence, clarity, and support. Read the whole thing.