Thirsty in isolation? California alcohol bureau now allowing drinks to go
In response to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to shut down all bars and slash restaurant occupancy to flatten the coronavirus curve, the state liquor bureau offered some relief by allowing drinks to go.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued a series of regulatory relief measures Thursday, including the to-go provision, just a few days after Newsom requested that all bars, wineries, night clubs and brew pubs in the state voluntarily close to limit the spread of the virus and further social distancing. He later requested the same of restaurants.
The announcement caught local bars and restaurants were off-guard, and mass layoffs have taken a toll on the 75,000 employees who work in the service industry in Sacramento.
Sacramento has seen major attrition in the past few weeks, with more than 100 restaurants closing for dine-in service and others closing altogether amid California’s shelter-in-place order.
The ABC’s relief measures were meant to take some of the pressure of the industry during the crisis by letting establishments sell beer, wine and cocktails for pickup — as long as it is sold with a meal.
While the department made clear that this is a temporary measure that may be revoked at any time, it also said that alcohol manufacturers may accept returns from retailers and extend credit to retailers during the crisis.
“The Department has carefully considered the public’s health, safety, and welfare in providing this relief, and the Department has concluded that none of these measures, exercised on a temporary basis, will jeopardize the public’s health, safety, or welfare,” the ABC said in a news release.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 12:37 PM with the headline "Thirsty in isolation? California alcohol bureau now allowing drinks to go."
