Navigating California’s To-Go Alcohol Rules: What’s New and What’s Unchanged?

Understanding California’s evolving alcohol sales regulations, especially regarding takeout or delivery, has become more confusing due to shifts during and after the Covid pandemic. We’ll break down what’s currently allowed and what’s not for ABC-licensed restaurants and bars across the state. First and foremost, it’s vital to recognize that each license type comes with specific privileges and limitations, detailed on the California ABC’s website. Importantly, no on-sale licensee is obligated to make sales for off-premises consumption; it’s a discretionary choice.

What’s Changed: Expanded Off-Sale and Drinks To-Go Privileges

As of January 1, 2022, some restaurants (“bona fide public eating places”) holding ABC license types 41, 47, or 75, and certain alcohol manufacturers (with license types 01, 02, 23, or 74) that house bona fide eating places can now offer alcohol for pickup. Here’s what’s permitted until 2027:

• Selling manufacturer-sealed spirits for off-premises consumption: Limited to pick-up only, not delivery.
• Offering cocktails and wine to-go: Provided in secure containers, labeled as alcoholic, and sold alongside a bona fide meal.

Unchanged and Still Available: On-Sale Retailers’ Off-Premise Sales

Certain on-sale license holders, like types 41, 42, 47, and 48, maintain the privilege to sell sealed alcoholic beverages (excluding spirits) for off-sale consumption or delivery. This excludes daily on-sale licenses for specific events. However, spirit sales are not part of the delivery privilege, though restaurants with a type 47 license can sell them to-go within specific guidelines. Additionally, craft distillers (type 74) can sell limited quantities of their distilled spirits for pickup.

Intrigued but Confused?

The alcohol sales landscape in California can be intricate, but License Gold is here to clarify. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the ABC or call us for further guidance.