Takeout Beer: Can You Buy And Go?

Alcohol sales are a significant revenue generator for restaurants, and during the pandemic, several US states relaxed their rules to allow restaurants to sell beer, wine, and cocktails for takeout and delivery. In Texas, for example, restaurants with a mixed beverage permit can sell alcohol for delivery or takeout as long as it is accompanied by a food order. In Canada, however, alcohol sales are more restricted. In Ontario, for instance, you can't buy liquor after 6 pm on a Sunday, and you can't get a 'doggie bag' of booze to take home from a restaurant.

Beer to-go in California during the pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, California's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) temporarily relaxed regulations to allow restaurants and other businesses in the alcohol beverage industry to sell beer, wine, and cocktails to-go. This change aimed to support businesses facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic-related restrictions.

Prior to this announcement, California's alcohol laws already included provisions that allowed breweries to self-distribute, ship within the state, sell beer to-go, and deliver directly to consumers. However, the new temporary measures went further, permitting restaurants with liquor licenses to include beer, wine, or cocktails in their deliveries or pick-up orders.

The relaxed regulations came with certain conditions. Alcoholic beverages had to be in sealed cans or bottles, or have secure lids with no straw holes. Mixed drinks that were not in sealed containers had to be accompanied by a food item. Restaurants were also required to display notices informing customers that to-go alcoholic drinks were open containers and should be transported in trunks and not consumed in public.

While some restaurant owners were hopeful that these eased regulations would help their businesses, sales initially remained slow. Nevertheless, the change provided a much-needed opportunity for businesses to boost their revenue during a challenging period.

Beer and wine to-go in Atlanta

Beer and wine lovers in Atlanta have had more options for enjoying their favourite drinks at home since March 2020. That month, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an order allowing the city's restaurants to sell beer and wine to-go for "off-premises consumption". The order was valid for 60 days and was aimed at boosting revenue for restaurants that had to close their dining rooms or transition to takeout and delivery services due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The order, which was pushed for by Georgia House District 89 Representative Bee Nguyen, allowed restaurants to sell unopened beer and wine with a "simple beer and wine package license". It did not include open containers or liquor.

While the order was a temporary measure, Atlanta also offers a wide range of drink-themed festivals, including several of the state's biggest and best craft beer festivals. There are also many wine festivals and events centred around other drinks such as mimosas, bourbon, and cocktails. Many of these events are held outdoors in the city's parks, and some are for guests aged 21 and over.

So, whether you're looking to pick up a six-pack with your takeout dinner or sample some local brews at a festival, Atlanta has plenty of options for beer and wine lovers.

Alcohol delivery and takeout in Toronto

Alcohol delivery and takeout options in Toronto have been evolving, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's a guide to help you navigate the alcohol delivery and takeout landscape in Toronto.

Alcohol Delivery Options in Toronto

During the pandemic, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced a temporary measure allowing Toronto restaurants and bars to sell alcohol with food takeout and delivery orders. This measure was implemented to support the hospitality sector, which faced significant challenges due to the pandemic. The adjustment was expected to last until December 31, 2020, providing some relief to businesses and drink-lovers in the city.

While this measure has likely ended, as it was temporary, there are still several options for getting alcohol delivered in Toronto.

The Beer Guy

The Beer Guy is a popular choice for alcohol delivery in Toronto. They offer over 3000 brands of liquor, spirits, beer, and wine for home delivery. One of their standout features is that they don't increase the prices of the products, so you pay the same as you would at a physical store. They also offer free delivery on your first order and provide fast delivery times, usually within a few hours.

Tipsy

Tipsy is another alcohol delivery service in Toronto that serves Toronto and several other cities in the Greater Toronto Area. They offer a wide range of local and imported products, including popular favourites and hidden gems. Tipsy promises speedy delivery, with an average alcohol delivery time of under 45 minutes. They also have a promotion where you get free delivery when you buy two items.

Food Delivery Apps

Food delivery apps like UberEats, DoorDash, and Skip The Dishes have also started venturing into alcohol delivery. However, they are still working out some of the logistics, such as ID and sobriety checks, especially with the rise of contactless delivery during the pandemic. Skip The Dishes, in particular, has been testing its alcohol delivery program with select restaurant chains, and more options are expected to become available.

Alcohol Takeout Options in Toronto

During the pandemic, Toronto residents could purchase alcohol as part of their takeout food orders from restaurants and bars. This was a welcome change for those wanting to support local businesses while also enjoying their favourite drinks at home.

However, it's important to note that cocktails and mixed drinks couldn't be served as ready-to-drink options due to AGCO regulations. Instead, they were delivered as deconstructed versions, with separate sealed bottles of liquor and mixers for customers to mix themselves.

Some bars and restaurants in Toronto got creative with their alcohol takeout options during this time. For example, Project Gigglewater in Dundas West offered batched cocktail kits with sealed bottles of liquor and small snacks, such as chips, to comply with the regulations.

While the temporary AGCO measure has likely ended, it's worth checking with your favourite local restaurants and bars to see if they continue to offer alcohol takeout options.

In summary, while the pandemic prompted some unique changes to alcohol delivery and takeout options in Toronto, the city continues to offer a variety of choices for those wanting to enjoy their favourite drinks at home. Whether it's through dedicated alcohol delivery services like The Beer Guy and Tipsy or food delivery apps, or by taking advantage of takeout options from restaurants and bars, there are plenty of ways to satisfy your alcohol cravings without leaving your home.

Alcohol to-go in Texas

Alcohol to-go is now legal in Texas, thanks to a bill signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in May 2021. This law, known as House Bill 1024, allows restaurants and bars with mixed-beverage permits and on-site kitchens to sell beer, wine, and mixed drinks for pickup and delivery orders. This legislation was implemented as a way to boost sales for struggling restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been made permanent.

Under House Bill 1024, Mixed Beverage and Private Club permittees are allowed to let customers pick up alcohol with food orders and deliver alcohol with food orders to customers. Third parties, including agents of the retailer or contractors holding a Consumer Delivery Permit (CD), can also be used to make deliveries on behalf of the restaurant or bar. Alcoholic beverages such as wine or malt beverages must be in their original containers or tamper-proof containers sealed by the retailer and properly labelled. Distilled spirits should be sold in single-serving containers of no more than 375 milliliters, and mixed drinks containing distilled spirits must be in a sealed, tamper-proof container with a label that includes the retailer's name and the words "alcoholic beverage".

The new law includes safety measures such as requiring alcoholic beverages to be purchased with food and to be transported in the trunk or non-passenger area of a motor vehicle. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) also offers a Texas Responsible Alcohol Delivery Training course for drivers who will be delivering alcohol directly to consumers.

The bill has received overwhelmingly positive support, with a poll from Cygnal finding that 65% of Texans support restaurants selling alcohol to-go. The Texas Legislature is also considering additional bills that would further relax alcohol sales restrictions, such as allowing seven-day alcohol sales.

Alcohol to-go in New York

In June 2021, the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) revoked the temporary privileges when restrictions on in-house dining were lifted. However, in January 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised to "introduce legislation to permanently allow the sale of to-go drinks for bars and restaurants statewide".

On April 9, 2022, Gov. Hochul announced that bars, restaurants, and taverns throughout New York were free to sell alcohol for off-premise consumption for the next three years. There are, however, several conditions that must be met:

• To-go alcohol must be sold with a "substantial food item". The SLA defines this as "sandwiches, soups, or other foods, whether fresh, processed, precooked, or frozen". Hot dogs, salads, and wings meet the "substantial food" test, while a bag of chips, bowl of nuts, or candy does not.
• To-go alcohol must be securely sealed but can't be in an original container. The alcoholic beverages must be packaged in a container with a secure lid or cap sealed in a manner designed to prevent consumption without removing the lid/cap or breaking the seal.
• Businesses may not offer special deals for off-premises beverages. The price per serving must be the same as if consumed on-premises.
• Transportation and delivery requirements must be followed. Alcohol must be transported in a vehicle's trunk or behind the last upright seat, and deliveries must be made in a vehicle owned and operated, or hired and operated, by the licensee or its employees.

The sale of alcohol to-go in New York has been hailed as a critical revenue stream for bars and restaurants, helping many small businesses across the state pay their rents or mortgages.

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