Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed H. 470, legislation to extend cocktails to-go for two years.

Cocktails to-go were set to expire on July 1, 2023. H. 470 extends the sunset date to July 1, 2025, and allows on-premise licensees to sell cocktails to-go for carryout with a food order.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 22 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to permanently allow cocktails to-go, and 11 others have enacted laws that allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis. Numerous states are still considering cocktails to-go legislation.

“Vermont businesses and adult consumers have embraced the added value and convenience that cocktails to-go bring,” Andy Deloney, senior vice president & head of state public policy at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), said in a news release. “With this extension, local businesses and consumers will be able to enjoy cocktails to-go for two additional years. This is particularly important for the hospitality industry which continues to face economic challenges. We thank Governor Scott and the legislature for ensuring cocktails to-go were extended in Vermont.”

The distilled spirits industry is committed to responsibility and encourages moderation for adults who choose to drink alcohol. Cocktails to-go are intended for home consumption. Laws governing alcohol consumption must always be observed.

BACKGROUND

States that signed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent into law:

Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia have all made COVID-era cocktails to-go measures permanent.

States that signed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis into law:

California (expires December 31, 2026), Colorado (expires July 1, 2025), Illinois (expires August 1, 2028), Maryland (local option – expires June 30, 2023), Massachusetts (expires April 1, 2024), Michigan (expires January 1, 2026), New Jersey (TBD), New York (expires April 9, 2025), Tennessee (expires July 1, 2023), Vermont (expires July 1, 2023) and Virginia (expires July 1, 2024) passed legislation to allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis.