Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday signed a bill into law allowing the temporary sale of drinks-to-go from bars, restaurants or hotels with a liquor license. The law takes effect immediately.
However, there are restrictions. The law applies to bars, restaurants and hotels that have lost 25% of average monthly sales during the coronavirus emergency. And the temporary rule expires after the emergency ends and a business reaches 60% capacity.
Here are more details on what is and isn’t permitted, according to guidance from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Each prepared beverage and mixed drink sold must be between 4 and 64 ounces and include liquor and at least one mixer combined on the licensed premises.
Licensees may not sell any of the following to go:
Mixed drinks containing wine or beer.
Unopened bottles of liquor.
Gallon jugs of cocktails.
Unopened ready-to-drink prepackaged cocktails.
Straight liquor.
Drinks-to-go may not be consumed on the licensed premises and must be sold in sealed containers with secure lids or caps designed to prevent consumption without removal of the lid or cap. A lid with sipping or straw holes must be covered or sealed.
Drinks-to-go can be sold from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays if the licensee has a Sunday sales permit.
There is no limit to the number of drinks-to-go a person can purchase at a time, and purchase of a meal is not required.
Drinks-to-go may not be delivered.
Within the next 60 days, any licensee selling drinks to go must begin to use a transaction scan device to verify the age of anyone appearing under 35.
It remains illegal to have an open container of alcohol while in a vehicle. Open containers may only be transported in a vehicle’s trunk or some other unoccupied area of the vehicle.
The following establishments are not permitted to sell drinks-to-go:
Clubs and catering clubs.
Any licensee whose license was objected to through the nuisance bar program.
Any licensee whose license is suspended or in safekeeping.
Any licensee previously suspended under the licensee compliance program.
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