Changes Brewing
as States Update Alcohol
Sales Legislation
By Jessica Loeding
T
JESSICA LOEDING is director of communications for Franchise
Business Services. You can reach Loeding at 678-797-5160 or
[email protected].
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July 1, some restaurants were allowed to
remove “Zion Curtains,” a barrier – typically
a partition or back room – meant to keep
patrons from seeing alcoholic beverages
mixed and poured. Stores will now be given
the option of seating those under the age of
21 at least 10 feet from a bar or at least 5 feet from a bar if the
restaurant installs a half-wall or other structure at least 3.5 feet
tall.
As legislation opens up guests’ ability to access alcohol,
it also has created competition in an increasing number of
states where on-premise sales at breweries and distilleries are
being approved. In 2017, states like Georgia, New York and
Mississippi adopted laws that allow for the visitors to breweries,
cideries or distilleries to purchase alcohol on site. Guests in
New York also will not pay sales tax on tastings, and the state
gave the green light to manufacturers of craft brews to open
branch locations.
Whether legislation presents new possibilities or operational
adjustments, franchisees are best prepared by staying abreast of
updates to local and state laws governing alcohol sales. S
he legal landscape surrounding alcohol sales continu-
ally changes. From hours to delivery, Buffalo Wild
Wings® owners across the country face differing laws
governing the sale of alcoholic beverages, and for
those franchisees with stores in separate states, operations from
location to location may vary depending on local and state law.
Along the West Coast, for example, World Wide Wings
adjusts alcohol options by state. Because Oregon and California
differ on the sale of bottles or growlers as part of delivery orders,
the company has adjusted package offers for customers ordering
takeout to comply with each state’s respective law.
In places like Southern California and Tennessee, third-
party companies such as GrubHub and DoorDash are able to
deliver sealed alcohol as part of their service, and more states are
beginning to open up to the possibilities of alcohol delivery. “I
think we ought to test the waters,” said World Wide Wings Chief
Marketing Officer Joe Janaszek. “Takeout business is not going to
stop. It is growing like crazy, so I think we ought to test as much
as we can to see how we can sell beer for takeout.”
Although evolving legislation around delivery affects some
B-Dubs® locations, others see changing legislation impacting
operations inside the store. The passage of a recent “brunch bill”
in North Carolina gives operators an additional two hours of
alcohol sales on Sunday, joining 47 other states in some form of
early Sunday sales.
Barriers inside Utah locations also came down with changes
to liquor laws in the state. Under the new law, which took effect