New to-go cocktail rules approved by California lawmakers

SACRAMENTO (KRON) — The California Senate authorized laws on Thursday that expanded provisions of a 2021 regulation that allowed the sale and supply of to-go cocktails. The invoice was authorized unanimously, on a 32-0 vote.

The laws was launched by Senator Invoice Dodd (D-Napa). It goals to offer monetary aid to eating places and bars, which have been hit arduous by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our eating places and bars have been hit arduous by the pandemic, and permitting flexibility to promote to-go cocktails has been a lifeline,” Sen. Dodd stated.

“To make sure a powerful restoration and to reply client demand, we should develop this profitable provision in methods that may make sense and will probably be useful to all. Due to my Senate colleagues for seeing the worth on this proposal.”

In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Dodd’s invoice permitting to-go alcoholic drinks to be offered as a part of take-out meals orders. This 12 months’s invoice expands that laws so that buyers should buy to-go drinks with out ordering a meal together with it.

It additionally extends the carry-out cocktail provision to bars and permits cocktails to be delivered from bars and eating places. To stop underage consuming, Alcohol Beverage Management will oversee alcohol supply.

In December 2021, native bar house owners instructed KRON4 that they weren’t pleased with the to-go cocktail regulation as a result of it required a full meal to accompany a to-go cocktail. It additionally mandated clients to select up their drink in particular person, fairly than permitting supply from third celebration apps.

“SB 846 (the invoice handed Thursday) restores a pre-existing privilege for eating places, meets client calls for, and strengthens public security protocols for the service of alcohol,” stated Matt Sutton, senior vice President of presidency affairs & public coverage for the California Restaurant Affiliation.