A fun idea for events would be for characters to have the ability to make an account at the bar and have the items then be free to everyone for a certain period of time.
This makes a lot of sense in my head but I don't know if I'm explaining it right.
I meant something automated. Having a player pass out food and stuff is alright but it's kind of a boring job and there's the issue of inventory and being dependent on someone that might be dealing with stuff behind the screen and not able to devote themselves to the task. Having a GM do it has some of the same problems as a player. Two hours tending bar is a long time in Illarion. Though as Hew points out, there's room to abuse an open bar in game as in life. Maybe build in a tip jar?