Georgia Approves the Sale of To-Go Cocktails

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Governor Brain Kemp made the sale of to-go cocktails official in Georgia by signing the SB 236 law on May 6, 2021.

 Over the last decade, Georgia has been updating some of its alcohol laws, such as allowing the sale of alcohol on Sundays and limited direct sales from state breweries.  This past year, along with the sale of to-go beverages, Georgia allowed home delivery of wine and beer.

 Chef Josh Lee remarked that the to-go law is a long-time coming as cocktails help boost the bottom line of most restaurants, even before the pandemic.  Many restaurants and bars only stayed afloat this last year by offering to-go services when dining rooms were forced to close.

Cocktails are more popular among restaurant-goers because it is not something most people will have at home, like beer and wine.  It was vital to allow the sale of mixed drinks, and now that it is an official law, Georgia is finding creative ways to adapt. 

 The to-go cocktails have allowed for open-container entertainment districts to pop up in the metro Atlanta area, creating a whole new way to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. 

 The sale of to-go cocktails still has a lot of restrictions.  The beverages must be sold in a sealed container.  There is a two-drink cocktail limit per order.  The drinks have to be made the same day they are ordered, have no more than 3 ounces of distilled spirits, and be picked up and sold by the person who ordered them.  This means that delivery services cannot deliver alcoholic drinks.  Once picked up, the person who ordered them must put them in a locked part of the car such as a glove box, locked trunk or backseat of the car.   

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