Building on efforts to support the hospitality industry through the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 2682, a bipartisan piece of legislation, which allows the sale of cocktails by bars and restaurants with liquor licenses for pickup and delivery.
“Restaurants and bars are beloved businesses in so many of our communities and also some of the hardest hit from the COVD-19 pandemic,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
This legislation will provide these businesses with a critical tool to bring in additional income until they can safely and fully reopen their doors once more. As we move forward, I am fully committed to taking every action available to us and pursuing all resources at the state and federal level to support this critical industry.”
Illinois joins 34 other states in enacting this policy. This new law provides restaurants and bar owners with a survival tool as they wait to open safely and to their full capacity.
Cocktails can only be delivered in a sealed, labeled container with a tamper-evident cap or seal by an employee of the liquor license holder who is over the age of 21 and trained in responsible alcohol service.
Cocktails may not be delivered via a third party delivery app. Cocktails can only be delivered after an employee verifies the age as well as the level of intoxication of the consumer.
The legislation also delays late fees and license fees for liquor licenses for businesses and establishes automatic liquor license renewal approval and extension for any license holder whose business or operations have been suspended in any capacity due as a result of COVID-19.
The late filing fee waiver applies for 6 months and the license extensions lasts for 120 days, after the latter of:
- the day the region moves to Phase 4, or
- the day after the expiration of the latest EO that limits or interrupts business, or
- the day after the expiration of any rules from DPH or other agencies.
Meanwhile, the City of Chicago extends the hours that restaurants may sell liquor.
Please note that this order are still subject to our ongoing curfew, meaning that non-essential businesses and restaurants may not stay open past 9 p.m. until the curfew is lifted.
Any establishment possessing a consumption on premises – incidental activity license or a tavern license under Chapter 4-60 of the Code, or an outdoor patio license or sidewalk café permit issued in association with such license, shall:
- cease all sales of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises between 11:00 p.m. and the hour at which the licensee is permitted to resume alcoholic liquor sales under Code Section 4-60-130.
- cease all sales of alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption between 9:00 p.m. and the hour at which the licensee is permitted to resume alcoholic liquor sales under Code Section 4-60-130, and
- prominently post signage, in a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, at each publicly accessible entrance to the establishment and in any area of the establishment where alcoholic liquor is sold, informing patrons of the 9:00 p.m. cessation of alcoholic liquor sales for off-premises consumption and the 11:00 p.m. cessation of alcoholic liquor sales for on-premises consumption.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BAR AND RESTAURANT OWNERS:
Illinois Liquor Control Commission COVID-19 Related Action Guidance on Temporary Delivery of Alcoholic Liquor – Click here
Illinois Liquor Control Commission COVID-19 Compliance Frequently Asked Questions – Click here
Order of the Commissioner of Health of the City of Chicago (EVENING CESSATION OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR SALES) – Click here.