Certain on-sale licensees are authorized to sell alcoholic beverages to-go. Below is information on laws and guidelines on existing and expanded privileges associated with the sales of alcoholic beverages to-go.
See ABC’s Industry Advisory on Senate Bill 389 for a review of the new, expanded alcohol to-go privileges.
Review the requirements and guidelines for selling distilled spirits and single-serve wine to-go.
Submit your notice of intent to sell alcohol to-go in non-manufacturer containers.
Business and Professions Code Section 23401
Existing law authorizes on-sale general licensees, such as Types 47 and 48, with respect to beer and wine, and any on-sale licensee, such as Types 41 and 42, with respect to the particular beverage or beverages mentioned in the license, to exercise the rights and privileges granted by an off-sale beer and wine license. Daily on-sale general licenses, issued pursuant to Section 24045.1, do not have off-sale privileges. None of the licensees mentioned in this section may, by reason of any license mentioned in this section, label, bottle, package, or refill any package with any alcoholic beverage.
Note: The COVID-19 regulatory relief that temporarily allowed for licensees to sell alcoholic beverages to-go expires on December 31, 2021. Starting January 1, 2022, only those on-sale licensees authorized under Business and Professions Code Sections 23401 and 23401.5 are authorized to exercise the off-sale privileges described in the sections.
Business and Professions Code Section 23401.5
Passage of Senate Bill 389 added Section 23401.5 to the Business and Professions Code. This law, effective January 1, 2022, expands off-sale privileges for certain restaurant license types, such as Types 41, 47 and 75, and certain alcohol manufacturer license types that operate a bona fide eating place at its premises of production, such as Types 01, 02, 23 and 74. The law authorizes these licensees to exercise the following privileges subject to specific requirements:
Prior to exercising the privileges in item 2 above, licensees must notify the Department of their intent to sell alcohol to-go in non-manufacturer sealed containers. Licensees must use the Alcohol To-Go Notification Tool to submit their notice of intent. Licensees eligible to exercise the privilege of sales of nonmanufacturer-sealed alcoholic beverages to-go may begin sales immediately after submitting the online notification and posting the required warning sign.
The alcohol sold may only be that which is allowed by the particular license type (ex. Type 41 license types cannot sell distilled spirits). Beer cannot be sold in non-manufacturer sealed containers.
Licensees that have operating conditions prohibiting off-sale privileges are not authorized to exercise any of the above privileges that are contrary to their operating conditions. Upon a showing of good cause, the Department may at any time impose new conditions on a license restricting or prohibiting the sale or furnishing of any alcoholic beverages pursuant to this privilege.
This statute is scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027.
Licensees should carefully review the Requirements and Guidelines before submitting a notice of intent.
For additional information, contact your local ABC District Office. Select a District Office --Please Select--BakersfieldConcordEurekaFresnoLA/MetroLB/LakewoodMonroviaPalm DesertReddingRiversideSacramentoSalinasSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan JoseSan Luis ObispoSan MarcosSanta AnaSanta RosaStocktonVan NuysVentura - OR - Find Your District Office by County --Please Select--AlamedaAlpineAmadorButteCalaverasColusaContra CostaDel NorteEl DoradoFresnoGlennHumboldtImperialInyoKernKingsLakeLassenLos Angeles - CentralLos Angeles - North Central Los Angeles - NortheastLos Angeles - NorthwestLos Angeles - SouthwestMaderaMarinMariposaMendocinoMercedModocMonoMontereyNapaNevadaOrangePlacerPlumasRiverside - Desert AreasRiverside,San BernardinoSacramentoSan BenitoSan Bernardino - Desert AreasSan Diego - NorthSan Diego - SouthSan FranciscoSan JoaquinSan Luis ObispoSan MateoSanta Barbara - NorthSanta Barbara - SouthSanta ClaraSanta CruzShastaSierraSiskiyouSolanoSonomaStanislausSutterTehamaTrinityTulareTuolumneVenturaYoloYuba Bakersfield map 4800 Stockdale Highway., Suite 213 Bakersfield CA, 93309 Phone:(661) 395-2731 Fax:(661) 322-5929 Email:Bakersfield@abc.ca.gov Concord map 1800 Sutter St., Ste 450 Concord CA , 94520 Phone:(925) 655-6314 Fax:(925) 655-6310 Email:Concord@abc.ca.gov Eureka map 1105 Sixth St., Suite C Eureka CA, 95501 Phone:(707) 445-7229 Fax:(707) 445-6643 Email:Eureka@abc.ca.gov Fresno map 1330 B East Shaw Ave. Fresno CA, 93710-7902 Phone:(559) 225-6334 Fax:(559) 225-8740 Email:Fresno@abc.ca.gov LA/Metro map 888 S Figueroa Street, Suite 320 Los Angeles CA, 90017 Phone:(213) 833-6043 Fax:(213) 833-6058 Email:LAMetro@abc.ca.gov LB/Lakewood map 3950 Paramount Blvd., Suite 250 Lakewood CA, 90712 Phone:(562) 982-1337 Fax:(562) 982-1396 Email:LongBeach/Lakewood@abc.ca.gov Monrovia map 222 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 114 Monrovia CA, 91016 Phone:(626) 256-3241 Fax:(626) 263-9858 Email:Monrovia@abc.ca.gov Palm Desert map 34-160 Gateway Dr., Suite 120 Palm Desert CA, 92211 Phone:(760) 324-2027 Fax:(760) 324-2632 Email:PalmDesert@abc.ca.gov Redding map 1900 Churn Creek Rd., Suite 215 Redding CA, 96002 Phone:(530) 224-4830 Fax:(530) 224-9338 Email:Redding@abc.ca.gov Riverside map 3737 Main Street, Suite 900 Riverside CA, 92501 Phone:(951) 782-4400 Fax:(951) 781-0531 Email:Riverside@abc.ca.gov Sacramento map 2400 Del Paso Road, Suite 155 Sacramento CA, 95834 Phone:(916) 419-1319 Fax:(916) 419-3994 Email:Sacramento@abc.ca.gov Salinas map 1137 Westridge Parkway Salinas CA, 93907 Phone:(831) 755-1990 Fax:(831) 755-1997 Email:Salinas@abc.ca.gov San Diego map 1350 Front St., Room 5056 San Diego CA, 92101 Phone:(619) 525-4064 Fax:(619) 231-1171 Email:SanDiego@abc.ca.gov San Francisco map 33 New Montgomery St., Suite 1230 San Francisco CA, 94105 Phone:(415) 356-6500 (415) 356-6501 (415) 356-6502 (415) 356-6503 Fax:(415) 356-6599 Email:SanFrancisco@abc.ca.gov San Jose map 100 Paseo de San Antonio, Room 119 San Jose CA, 95113 Phone:(408) 277-1200 Fax:(408) 971-9421 Email:SanJose@abc.ca.gov San Luis Obispo map 3220 S. Higuera St., Suite 103A San Luis Obispo CA, 93401 Phone:(805) 543-7183 Fax:(805) 543-3814 Email:SanLuisObispo@abc.ca.gov San Marcos map 570 Rancheros Drive, Suite 240 San Marcos CA, 92069 Phone:(760) 471-4237 Fax:(760) 471-6142 Email:SanMarcos@abc.ca.gov Santa Ana map 2 MacAurthur Place, Suite 200 Santa Ana CA, 92707 Phone:(657) 205-3533 Fax:(657) 205-3520 Email:SantaAna@abc.ca.gov Santa Rosa map 50 D Street, Room 130 Santa Rosa CA, 95404 Phone:(707) 576-2165 Fax:(707)527-9537 Email:SantaRosa@abc.ca.gov Stockton map 31 E. Channel St., Room 168 Stockton CA, 95202 Phone:(209) 948-7739 Fax:(209) 546-7853 Email:Stockton@abc.ca.gov Van Nuys map 6150 Van Nuys Blvd., Room 220 Van Nuys CA, 91401 Phone:(818) 901-5017 Fax:(818) 785-6731 Email:VanNuys@abc.ca.gov Ventura map 1000 South Hill Road, Suite 310 Ventura CA, 93003 Phone:(805) 289-0100 Fax:(805) 289-0110 Email:Ventura@abc.ca.gov
4800 Stockdale Highway., Suite 213 Bakersfield CA, 93309
1800 Sutter St., Ste 450 Concord CA , 94520
1105 Sixth St., Suite C Eureka CA, 95501
1330 B East Shaw Ave. Fresno CA, 93710-7902
888 S Figueroa Street, Suite 320 Los Angeles CA, 90017
3950 Paramount Blvd., Suite 250 Lakewood CA, 90712
222 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 114 Monrovia CA, 91016
34-160 Gateway Dr., Suite 120 Palm Desert CA, 92211
1900 Churn Creek Rd., Suite 215 Redding CA, 96002
3737 Main Street, Suite 900 Riverside CA, 92501
2400 Del Paso Road, Suite 155 Sacramento CA, 95834
1350 Front St., Room 5056 San Diego CA, 92101
33 New Montgomery St., Suite 1230 San Francisco CA, 94105
100 Paseo de San Antonio, Room 119 San Jose CA, 95113
3220 S. Higuera St., Suite 103A San Luis Obispo CA, 93401
570 Rancheros Drive, Suite 240 San Marcos CA, 92069
2 MacAurthur Place, Suite 200 Santa Ana CA, 92707
50 D Street, Room 130 Santa Rosa CA, 95404
31 E. Channel St., Room 168 Stockton CA, 95202
6150 Van Nuys Blvd., Room 220 Van Nuys CA, 91401
1000 South Hill Road, Suite 310 Ventura CA, 93003
This bill applies to the holder of an on-sale license that is issued for a bona fide public eating place that has off-sale privileges. This includes Type 41, Type 47, and Type 75 licenses. It also applies to a licensed beer manufacturer, licensed wine manufacturer, or licensed craft distiller that operates a bona fide public eating place at its premises of production.
To sell distilled spirits or wine for off-site consumption as authorized by this bill, the licensee must have on-sale wine or distilled spirits privileges. For example, a Type 41 license cannot sell distilled spirits pursuant to this bill since that license type does not provide distilled spirits privileges.
A manufacturer-sealed container is a container, such as a bottle or can, that is filled and sealed by the manufacturer of the alcohol. A nonmanufacturer-sealed container (to-go) is a container filled by the retail licensee that has a secure lid or cap that is sealed in a manner designed to prevent consumption without removal of the lid or cap by breaking the seal. A nonmanufacturer-sealed container is considered an “open container” if transported in a motor vehicle. In addition to other requirements, licensees selling nonmanufacturer-sealed alcoholic beverages to-go must post a notice that states the following:
“Alcoholic beverages that are packaged by this establishment are open containers and shall not be transported in a motor vehicle except in the vehicle’s trunk or, if there is no trunk, the containers shall be kept in some other area of the vehicle that is not normally occupied by the driver or passengers. This does not include a utility compartment or glove compartment (See Vehicle Code Section 23225). Additionally, these beverages shall not be consumed in public or in any other area where open containers are prohibited by law.”
No. Licensees are responsible for ensuring compliance with this restriction. Similarly, partially consumed alcoholic beverages, such as those ordered while dining-in, cannot be packaged to-go.
Existing law generally allows an on-sale retail license to sell or deliver manufacturer-sealed containers of beer and wine for consumption off the licensed premises. This bill does not alter these privileges in any way. However, alcoholic beverages sold pursuant to this bill cannot be delivered. This means that manufacturer-sealed distilled spirits and nonmanufacturer-sealed distilled spirits or single-serve wine cannot be delivered to consumers.
English Afrikaans Albanian Amharic Arabic Armenian Azerbaijani Basque Belarusian Bengali Bosnian Bulgarian Catalan Cebuano Chichewa Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Corsican Croatian Czech Danish Dutch English Esperanto Estonian Filipino Finnish French Frisian Galician Georgian German Greek Gujarati Haitian Creole Hausa Hawaiian Hebrew Hindi Hmong Hungarian Icelandic Igbo Indonesian Irish Italian Japanese Javanese Kannada Kazakh Khmer Korean Kurdish (Kurmanji) Kyrgyz Lao Latin Latvian Lithuanian Luxembourgish Macedonian Malagasy Malay Malayalam Maltese Maori Marathi Mongolian Myanmar (Burmese) Nepali Norwegian Pashto Persian Polish Portuguese Punjabi Romanian Russian Samoan Scottish Gaelic Serbian Sesotho Shona Sindhi Sinhala Slovak Slovenian Somali Spanish Sudanese Swahili Swedish Tajik Tamil Telugu Thai Turkish Ukrainian Urdu Uzbek Vietnamese Welsh Xhosa Yiddish Yoruba Zulu