The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) applauded the Illinois House and Senate which approved a bill (SB 89) that includes language extending cocktails to-go and delivery until August 1, 2028. The measure now goes to Governor J.B. Pritzker for his signature.
“A five-year extension of cocktails to-go gives local businesses and their customers the ability to continue to enjoy what has become an integral part of take-out dining,” said Andy Deloney, senior vice president & head of state public policy at DISCUS. “Cocktails to-go provide much-needed revenue to hospitality businesses facing supply chain issues, staffing shortages and inflation. They also give adult consumers the added convenience they have come to expect when ordering from their favorite restaurants. We urge Governor Pritzker to sign this bill and continue cocktails to-go in support of Illinois businesses and consumers.”
Illinois’s current cocktails to-go law is set to expire June 1, 2024.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 20 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to permanently allow cocktails to-go, and 14 others have enacted laws that allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis. Numerous states are still considering cocktails to-go legislation.
The distilled spirits industry is committed to responsibility and encourages moderation for adults who choose to drink alcohol. Cocktails to-go are intended for home consumption. Laws governing alcohol consumption must always be observed.
BACKGROUND
States that signed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent into law:
Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia have all made COVID-era cocktails to-go measures permanent.
States that signed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis into law:
California (expires December 31, 2026), Colorado (expires July 1, 2025), Connecticut (expires June 4, 2024), Illinois (expires January 3, 2024), Maryland (local option – expires June 30, 2023), Massachusetts (expires April 1, 2024), Michigan (expires January 1, 2026), New Jersey (TBD), New York (expires April 9, 2025), Tennessee (expires July 1, 2023), Vermont (expires July 1, 2023) and Virginia (expires July 1, 2024) passed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis.