Washington Greenlights Cocktail Delivery And Pick-Up

WASHINGTON — Washingtonians can now enjoy crafted cocktails in their own homes without the hassle of having to learn homebrew mixology. As The Stranger first reported, Wednesday the state Liquor Control Board relaxed regulations to allow restaurants to serve alcoholic cocktails for delivery or pick-up. The change also includes simple mixed drinks like a gin & tonic.

There are some stipulations for cocktail delivery though:

• The cocktail must be sold with a "complete meal" or entree prepared by the restaurant or bar.
• Cocktails must be delivered sealed, and capped with a lid that does not have any holes for sipping or straws to prevent drinking on the go.

Drivers making deliveries also have to store the drinks in their trunk or out of immediate reach, and of course sellers will still have to check and make sure customers are 21 or older.

In March, the Liquor Control Board relaxed rules allowing restaurants to deliver alcohol, but those regulations required the delivery be made in sealed bottles, prohibiting the delivery of bespoke cocktails.

The Stranger's report notes that many restaurants had been hungry for this change, as cocktails are one of the food industries most consistent money-makers.

"For many “spirit, beer, wine, restaurant” license holders, this is the only margin that truly generates an actual profit," a collection of restaurants wrote to the Liquor Control Board in April.

The restaurants go on to argue that with many stuck at home during the stay-at-home order, this "is probably the safest time in the history of our country to sell cocktails to-go."

The relaxation is only temporary: it will expire 30 days after the business's county enters stage four of Gov. Inslee's plan to reopen the state.

Businesses curious about how the alcohol regulations have changed or other changes that are happening during the coronavirus outbreak are encouraged to visit the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board's website for more information.