Bars, Wineries Without Kitchens Now Allowed to Serve Alcoholic Drinks To Go

Bars, breweries, distilleries and wineries in California that do not have their own kitchens, but partner with meal providers can now sell alcoholic beverages to go, so long as they are sold with a meal and served in a sealed container, it was announced Friday.

The announcement by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is an effort to “assist over 50,000 small and large businesses facing severe economic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to ABC spokesman John Carr.

The move came about after the department received numerous requests from businesses that do not operate kitchen facilities to extend its rule allowing the sale of to-go alcoholic drinks with meals prepared on-site at bars and restaurants, Carr said.

“We know businesses have suffered as they continue fighting to slow the spread of COVID-19,” ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith said. “We have heard directly from these businesses that the notices of regulatory relief can give them a boost and help bring more people back to work.”

On May 15, the department authorized thousands of licensees to use parking lots, patios or sidewalks to help fight coronavirus by spreading out patrons and providing more areas for physical distancing, Carr said.