Photo courtesy of Palm Coast Observer
California’s Legislature has passed Senate Bill 389 extending the state’s alcohol-to-go approval until December 31st, 2026.
The bill’s details:
- The restaurant, bar, or distillery must also sell food on-premises if it wants to sell alcohol-to-go
- The alcohol is limited to 4.5oz of distilled spirits per serving, with a limit of 2 cocktails per meal
- The alcohol must be sold in a container with a sealable lid or cap
- The alcohol must be picked up directly by the consumer, no delivery of alcoholic drinks is allowed
- The alcohol must be transported in a trunk, or an area of the vehicle not occupied by the driver or passengers
- The restaurant, bar, or distillery must post the aforementioned transport limits in a visible location within the establishment
According to the Vice President of State and Government Relations for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Adam Smith, “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate California’s hospitality businesses, and it will be years before they fully recover. Extending cocktails to-go for five years will provide a critical lifeline for California’s bars, restaurants, and distilleries.”
According to data tracked by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, over 35 states began allowing for alcohol-to-go as an economic relief measure since the pandemic was declared in March of last year. This being said, many states did so under a governor’s executive order or other temporary measures; as such, 14 states have passed legislation to allow alcohol-to-go on a temporary basis, while 16 others, as well as the District of Columbia, have passed permanent legislation.
Permanent:
- Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin as well as the District of Columbia.
Temporary:
- New Jersey (expires January 1, 2022)
- Colorado (expires July 1, 2025)
- Connecticut (expires June 4, 2024)
- Delaware (expires March 31, 2022)
- Illinois (expires Jan. 3, 2024)
- Maine (expires Sept. 10, 2022)
- Maryland (local option – expires June 30, 2023)
- Massachusetts (expires May 1, 2022)
- Michigan (expires Dec. 31, 2025),
- Rhode Island (expires March 1, 2022)
- Tennessee (expires July 1, 2023)
- Vermont (expires July 1, 2023)
- Virginia (expires July 1, 2022)
- Washington (expires July 1, 2023)
California’s Senate Bill 389 now goes to Governor Gavin Newsom for signing.
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