Emergency Rule Changes Regarding The Sale of Alcoholic Beverages

• Posted Date: 03/19/2020
• Office: Alcoholic Beverage Control, All DFA
• News:

  Pursuant to the Governor’s March 17th Proclamation the Alcoholic Beverage Control has set forth the following Rule Amendments effective immediately and to continue for the next thirty days:

  Restaurant and Microbrewery Restaurant Permittees (hereafter referred to as “restaurants”) licensed to sell beer and wine under any permit, issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control may sell corked or sealed bottles of wine with the purchase of food, consistent with their existing ability to allow a patron to take home an unfinished bottle of wine purchased with food.  Many restaurants already have the capability to sell beer for on-premises consumption and beer to go pursuant to a retail beer permit or microbrewery restaurant permit.  In order to establish parity among all restaurants during this emergency, any restaurant licensed to sell beer under any permit, may sell sealed cans and bottles of beer to patrons with purchase of food.   Restaurants may also include beer and wine with delivery of food items.  Restaurants shall not sell any spirituous liquor to go or for delivery.  Restaurants may sell mixers and set-ups. 

  Retail liquor stores with drive thru windows are encouraged to use those exclusively.  Retail liquor stores may offer curbside services and delivery to their patrons.

  Grocery stores and convenience stores may offer curbside services and delivery to their patrons. 

  Distilleries, Small Breweries and Small Farm Wineries, consistent with their existing licenses, may sell their own products for off premises consumption and offer delivery of their products to patrons.

  Delivery of alcoholic beverages shall be by an employee of the licensed restaurant, microbrewery restaurant, distillery, small brewery, small farm winery, or liquor store.  Alcohol shall not be delivered by a third-party delivery service.

  All restaurants and retailers are reminded to continue to ensure they do not sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21.

  There is to be no off-premise sales or deliveries within a dry county or area. There shall be no deliveries made into a dry county or area. Private club permit holders may not sell to go or deliver any alcoholic beverages.