California Legislature Passes Bill Extending Cocktails To-Go Until 2026

Measure heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Legislature today passed SB 389, a bill to extend cocktails to-go until December 31, 2026, which would increase consumer convenience and support hospitality businesses devastated by COVID-19. The bill now heads Governor Gavin Newsom for signature.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate California’s hospitality businesses, and it will be years before they fully recover,” said Adam Smith, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Vice President of State Government Relations. “Cocktails to-go has already proven to be a vital part of their survival during COVID-19 and will provide increased stability as they work to get back on their feet. Extending cocktails to-go for five years will provide a critical lifeline for California’s bars, restaurants and distilleries. We thank the legislature for passing this bill and encourage Governor Newsome to sign this measure into law.”

During COVID-19, more than 35 states began allowing restaurants and/or bars to sell cocktails to-go as an economic relief measure via executive orders or other temporary measures. Since then, 16 states and the District of Columbia passed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent, and 14 other states passed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis.

BACKGROUND

States that passed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent:

Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia have all made COVID-era cocktails to-go measures permanent.

States that passed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis:

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 December 31, 2025), Jersey (expires January 1, 2022), Rhode Island (expires March 1, 2022), Tennessee (expires July 1, 2023), Vermont (expires July 1, 2023), Virginia (expires July 1, 2022) and Washington (expires July 1, 2023) passed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis.

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.

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The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is the leading voice and advocate for distilled spirits in the U.S., advocating on legislative, regulatory and public affairs issues impacting the distilled spirits sector at the local, state, federal and international levels. DISCUS members are committed to responsibility and encourage adults who drink to do so in moderation.