Alabama’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board voted on Monday to allow curbside alcohol sales through the holiday season.
The ABC Board’s decision comes as the state is experiencing record levels of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. The board first instituted curbside selling in March but stopped the practice in the middle of September during a lull in cases.
According to media reports, the board voted unanimously to issue what will be categorized as an “emergency curbside sales authorization.”
Sales are limited to “sealed, unopened containers,” that have not been altered from the facility in which they were manufactured, and strict limits are in place on the amount of alcoholic beverage a customer can purchase curbside.
Several business groups had been pushing for a resumption of the practice.
A popular compromise method for those wary of coronavirus transmission — drinking at outdoor tables — has declined in its appeal with the onset of winter temperatures.
As part of the rules, establishments can sell no more than one 375-milliliter bottle of liquor, two bottles of wine whose combined contents do not exceed 1500 milliliters and 144-ounce of beer per customer (144 ounces of beer is equivalent to a 12-pack of standard 12 oz cans of beer).
Draft beer may be sold in the area’s of Alabama where on-premises brewing has been legalized and the manufacturer upholds proper sealing procedures.
Additionally, the employees ferrying the spirits to the vehicle must be at least 21 years of age.
The full text of the emergency order from the ABC Board can be read here.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
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