Illinois’ bars and restaurants can continue to sell to-go cocktails until 2024 after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into a law a three-year extension of the measure that was adopted during COVID-19. It is yet another pandemic-era allowance that has been extended or made permanent across the country, changing forever the landscape for how the alcohol business can respond to changing consumer habits induced by the pandemic.
The sale of to-go cocktails are far more lucrative to bars and restaurants. The law was set to sunset on Wednesday, June 2.
From outdoor on-premise “parklets,” direct-shipping to consumers (DTC), drinks to-go and new service methods at restaurants, the pandemic has left a significant and permanent mark on the alcohol and hospitality industry. Although many states have let some temporary allowances expire, many have bent to industry pressure and passed legislation to extend the pro-business measures. In many cases it is expected that those allowances that have been extended will eventually be made permanent.
States that that have signed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent into law include 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.
States that signed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis into law include 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).
In addition to helping bars, restaurants, brewpubs and other on-premise retailers, the new allowances have also fueled growth in delivery services. These services have helped the hospitality industry lobby for a continuation of pandemic-era allowances at state Capitols.
More on the Illinois law here.