The Thirsty Ear offers a highly-reputable and highly-affordable beverage catering service to the MIT community. Our bartenders are MIT graduate students, experienced bartenders, and are familiar with MIT’s guidelines for alcohol service. All are licensed under the Cambridge Licensee Advisory Board, and many are additionally T.I.P.S. certified. Catering through the Thirsty Ear also provides protection under the MIT insurance policy.

Requesting Catering Service

The preferred method for submitted your catering request is to use the Thirsty Ear’s online Event Form.

If you have trouble with the form, you can also send an email to ear-info@mit.edu with the following information:

• the organization you represent (if any),
• the date and time period when beverage service is required,
• the number of people you expect,
• whether you would like the Thirsty Ear to provide beverages or if you prefer to provide your own beverages,
• and, if you would like the Thirsty Ear to provide beverages, whether you would like a host or cash bar.

A minimum of two weeks notice is preferred for any reservation. If less than two weeks is given, staff availability must be confirmed before the Thirsty Ear can guarantee the reservation.

The Thirsty Ear provides plastic glasses for its beverages. If the host would like to serve glassware instead, our bartenders will gladly utilize any provided glassware.

Event Registration

Any event for which the Thirsty Ear is requested for catering service must be registered with MIT, and the Thirsty Ear Pub requires a copy of the alcohol license prior to servicing any event. Departments may register with the Conference Services, Events, and Information Center (7-121, 253-4796), and residence halls and student organizations may register with Residential Life and Student Life Programs (W20-549, 253-6777). You can find out more about event registration and the MIT guidelines at http://web.mit.edu/alcohol/www/events.html.

The Thirsty Ear Pub provides information and assistance in event registration.

Fees & Rates

The Thirsty Ear offers competitive rates to the MIT community for its catering services.

For events where the Thirsty Ear provides both beverages and beverage service:

• bartenders are billed per hour,
• there is a 4-hour minimum,
• there is a setup fee,
• and if beverages are hosted, a gratuity will be added.

For events where the host provides beverages and the Thirsty Ear provides only beverage service:

• bartenders are billed per hour,
• there is a 3-hour minimum,
• a gratuity will be added.

Additional Fees

• One bartender is required for every 75 guests over the age of 21.
• If the Thirsty Ear provides beverages, and if more than 1/2 of the beverages requested by the group must be returned to the Thirsty Ear, a restocking fee will be applied to the amount returned and included on the invoice.
• The Thirsty Ear will bill directly from Brookline Ice unless the host chooses to provide ice.

Cancellation Policy

If you plan to cancel a reservation, please let us know at the earliest possible date. If an event is canceled within two weeks of its scheduled reservation, a cancellation fee will be billed. If it is canceled prior to this two week period, there is no cancellation fee.