New Colorado bill wants to keep to-go alcohol, delivery sales after executive order expires
DENVER (KRDO) -- A new bipartisan bill introduced to the Colorado Senate aims to continue allowing dine-in businesses with liquor licenses to let customers take their alcoholic drinks to-go or get through delivery.
Alcohol to-go is now allowed in the COVID-19 era since Gov. Polis issued an executive order in March when bars were forced to shut down. However, the emergency order is set to expire May 30. The new bill would extend the practice until July 2022.
"The bill authorizes a business with a manufacturer or wholesaler license and a sales room, beer and wine license, hotel and restaurant license, tavern license, brew pub license, club license, vintner's restaurant license, distillery pub license, lodging and entertainment license, or fermented malt beverage on- and off-premises retailer license (retailer) to deliver alcohol beverages to customers and to allow customers to take the beverages off the licensed premises. The beverages may be sold or delivered in a sealed container that complies with state licensing authority rules and may be sold by the drink or by multiple drinks," reads the bill in part.
Senate Bill 20-213 gives additional guidelines, notably proposing that businesses hold a special license to sell alcohol to-go or for delivery:
- The customer must be 21 years of age or older;
- If the governor has not declared an emergency, the order may contain no more than 750 milliliters of vinous liquors and spirituous liquors and no more than 72 fluid ounces of malt liquors, fermented malt beverages, and hard cider;
- If the governor has not declared an emergency or the retailer is not a wholesaler or manufacturer that operates a sales room, the retailer must derive no more than 50% of its gross annual revenues for sales of food and alcohol beverages from the sale of alcohol beverages through takeout orders and that the retailer delivers;
- If the governor has not declared an emergency, the retailer must have a permit to sell takeout or deliver alcohol beverages; and
- Delivery must be made by an employee of the licensee who is 21 years of age or older and who has satisfactorily completed seller and server training under the responsible vendor program.
The bipartisan bill is being sponsored by state senators and Jeff Bridges and Kevin Priola, with house sponsorship by state representatives Colin Larson and Dylan Roberts.
