Editor’s Note: The below article is part of our ongoing #StayAtHome series, presented to help inform and entertain our readers as we all practice social distancing and take comfort in our homes. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the Foley Food & Wine Society app, to be alerted to new #StayAtHome content when it’s published.
The Coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe is having a devastating impact on the restaurant industry. Employees are being furloughed or laid off altogether. Not only are restaurant owners facing temporary closures, but many are grappling with the fact that they may lose their business entirely. In an effort to bolster revenue for local restaurants, and also retail shops, bars, and nearly any business with a license to sell alcohol, lawmakers are relaxing restrictions on alcohol “to-go” and delivery options during COVID-19 “Shelter-in-Place” mandates.
As part of our continued efforts to support our partners in the restaurant and beverage industries, we’ve compiled this list detailing which states are offering alcohol “to-go” through options like delivery with purchases of food, curbside pick-ups, or takeaway. We encourage you to support your local businesses by taking advantage of these temporary new laws. The only thing you have to do is present your I.D.
The rules vary from state-to-state—and change frequently. Your best bet is to contact your local restaurant and ask if they are allowed to deliver alcohol or let you purchase it to-go. We’ll update this list as often as possible as the rules change, but please be sure to look for announcements from your local lawmakers!
STATES ALLOWING FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGES “TO-GO”:
ALABAMA
Yes. Allows for temporary delivery of wine and spirits to consumers using curbside pick-up/take-out services. View specifics (PDF).
ALASKA
Maybe, but confusing. It seems that restaurants are able to offer food and beverage for pick-up and delivery, but this announcement (PDF) failed to specify if the beverage was for non-alcoholic or alcoholic products, so, inquire.
ARIZONA
Yes. Restaurants can offer alcohol with food orders with pick-up, delivery, and drive-through operations.
ARKANSAS
Yes. Restaurants may provide delivery of beer and wine with the purchase of food. View specifics.
CALIFORNIA
Yes. Restaurants may offer beer and wine in a refillable or sealed container with the purchase of food. View specifics.
COLORADO
Yes. On-premise retail establishments can deliver alcohol with the sale of food. View specifics (PDF).
CONNECTICUT
Yes. Alcohol can be sold by restaurants with the sale of food for pick-up only. For specifics, click here. View specifics.
DELAWARE
Yes. Restaurants can offer alcohol with pick-up or drive-through operations. Alcohol cannot exceed 40% of sales transaction. View specifics.
FLORIDA
Yes. Restaurants can sell alcohol as part of take-out or delivery orders. View specifics (PDF).
GEORGIA
Yes. Grocery stores and restaurants can sell sealed alcohol as carry-out or drive-through only. View specifics.
HAWAII
Yes, but totally crazy. The law requires that the product (wine, beer, spirits) be opened and resealed prior to being provided to the customer even if no product has been consumed. View specifics.
IDAHO
Yes. Licensed retailers may deliver wine and beer. View specifics (PDF).
ILLINOIS
Yes. Licensed retailers may deliver alcohol in the original containers. (Temporary) View specifics (PDF).
INDIANA
Yes. Holders of on-premise permits may sell alcoholic beverages for carry-out consumption. View specifics (PDF).
IOWA
Yes. Bars, restaurants, and other alcohol retailers may sell alcohol in unopened containers for carry-out, curbside pickup, drive-through, or home delivery. View specifics.
KANSAS
Yes. Specific retailers may sell alcohol for curbside pickup only. View specifics (PDF).
KENTUCKY
Yes. Restaurants may offer sealed alcohol with the purchase of food for delivery and carry-out. View specifics (PDF).
LOUISIANA
Yes. Restaurants may offer packaged beer or wine with curbside delivery or pickup. View specifics (PDF).
MAINE
Sort of. Specialty beer and wine stores are considered essential businesses and will remain open. These stores are encouraged to maximize opportunities for curbside pickup and delivery. View specifics (PDF).
MARYLAND
Yes. Restaurants and bars may continue to sell alcoholic beverages with takeout and delivery orders. View specifics (PDF). Different rules apply to Montgomery County.
MASSACHUSETTS
Maybe. A bill is set to be voted on that would allow restaurants to sell 192 ounces of beer; 16 bottles of 12-ounces; and 1.5 liters of wine, the equivalent of two bottles, per transaction according to Eater and MassLive.
MICHIGAN
Sort of. Certain licensed retailers may deliver alcohol to your home. Best bet is to inquire with your local restaurant, retail, or bar. View specifics (PDF).
MINNESOTA
No. Only existing establishments with an off-sale license to sell alcohol are allowed to sell alcohol off-premise. View specifics.
MISSISSIPPI
Yes. Permitted restaurants are allowed to sell one sealed bottle of wine with a to-go order until April 30, 2020. View specifics.
MISSOURI
Yes. Curbside pickup and delivery options are available. View specifics.
MONTANA
No. Agency liquor stores will remain open at this time. View specifics.
NEBRASKA
Yes. On-premise liquor license holders may sell alcoholic beverages in the original package to go; however, sale of mixed drinks for take out is temporary. View specifics.
NEVADA
Depends. The cities of Las Vegas and Henderson are allowing restaurants to sell alcohol via curbside takeout orders for certain licenses. View specifics.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Yes. All establishments with both a restaurant license and on-premise license are temporarily authorized to allow for takeout and delivery of beer or wine. View specifics (PDF).
NEW JERSEY
Sort of. Restaurants and bars are offering takeout and delivery services; however, alcohol must be sold in its original container from the public barroom. View specifics (PDF).
NEW MEXICO
No. Restaurants may only offer takeout and delivery of food. Wineries, brewpubs, craft distillers, and package liquor stores may offer takeout of food only. View specifics (PDF).
NEW YORK
Yes. Licensed retailers may sell alcoholic beverages in the sealed, original container for takeout and delivery with the purchase of food. View specifics.
NORTH CAROLINA
Sort of. Licensed retailers may provide curbside pickup for alcoholic beverages if they are in the original, sealed container. View specifics.
NORTH DAKOTA
Depends. Depending on your city, it may or may not approve the curbside pickup, to go sale, and delivery of alcohol. The Fargo City Commission has approved this within Fargo City limits for 30 days. Best bet, inquire.
OHIO
Yes. Permit holders may sell beer, wine, and prepackaged mixed beverages in their original, sealed containers for off-premise consumption. Sealed beer and wine products can be delivered by an employee of the permit holder. View specifics (PDF).
OKLAHOMA
Yes. Until April 17, 2020, delivery of beer and wine products in sealed packages is permitted. View specifics (PDF).
OREGON
Sort of. Licensees may provide curbside delivery only, but can utilize e-commerce operators (i.e. food-delivery app couriers) for delivery. View specifics (PDF).
PENNSYLVANIA
No. State-run liquor stores are closed; curbside pick-up or delivery are not permitted as of March 31, 2020. View more details.
RHODE ISLAND
Yes. Restaurants may sell alcohol with pick-up food orders, liquor stores may deliver. View specifics.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Yes. Curbside delivery and pickup of alcohol are available, however, home-delivery is not permitted, and certainly not with any purchase of pizza (something they felt they had to point out in section 9). View specifics (PDF).
SOUTH DAKOTA
Unlikely. State laws have not changed, and do not permit the delivery of any alcoholic beverages unless the business is in possession of an off-sale delivery license. Best bet, inquire.
TENNESSEE
Sort of. It seems that restaurants are able to sell wine and beer to-go, but currently not liquor or spirits. View specifics (PDF).
TEXAS
Sort of. Restaurants that hold a Mixed Beverage Permit may conduct “to-go” alcohol sales as well as alcohol deliveries to consumers. View specifics (best bet is to just inquire with your local restaurant).
UTAH
No. Alcohol may not be sold to go, per this announcement (PDF).
VERMONT
Yes. Delivery and curbside pickup permitted for wine, beer, and spirits, accompanying food orders. View specifics.
VIRGINIA
Yes. Temporarily allows for the sale of wine or beer in sealed containers for curbside pickup in a designated area (parking lot, etc.), and home delivery. View specifics.
WASHINGTON
Yes. Spirit, Beer, and Wine (SBW) Restaurant, Beer and Wine (BW) Restaurant, and Tavern licensees will be allowed to temporarily make curbside and/or delivery sales of alcohol under various conditions. View specifics.
WEST VIRGINIA
Yes. Executive order 9-20 states that businesses with Class A Licensees (on-premises bars and restaurants) providing food and beverage [including the sale of sealed wine and beer, if appropriately licensed, for off-premises consumption are essential businesses and “shall remain” open, per the order and may sell alcohol to-go as per usual. The state also classified the following as essential businesses also to remain open: distillers, mini-distillers, wineries, farm wineries, wine suppliers, wine distributors and beer distributors.
WISCONSIN
Yes. Carryout sales of alcohol beverages and food are allowed, if permitted by state law and municipal ordinance. Delivery of alcohol beverages to retail customers is prohibited as of March 25. View specifics.
WYOMING
Yes. The alcohol sale must be made on the same receipt or transaction as the accompanying food sale; total alcohol purchase not exceed 49% of the total pre-tax ticket price of the entire order; Alcohol must be in its original, sealed container, and its provisions, only apply to take-out and/or curbside pickup directly at the licensed business location. The Executive Order set to expire on midnight, April 17, 2020. More specifics.
Our primary resource for compiling our list was the Wine Institute. Thanks to the Institute for such a comprehensive and up-to-date list!
