Mich. House OKs Permanent Cocktails to Go

The Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill which would make cocktails-to-go permanent and sent the bill to the Senate for consideration.

“We are grateful to representatives who voted to approve cocktails to-go,” said Andy Deloney, senior vp and head of state public policy at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. “The cocktails to-go law has been a tremendous benefit for Michigan’s neighborhood restaurants, taverns and small distilleries. Michigan consumers have come to expect cocktails to-go when ordering takeout from their favorite local restaurants. Making the cocktails to-go law permanent solidifies the increased convenience consumers have enjoyed over the last few years and builds increased stability for businesses.”

Currently, cocktails to-go are set to expire on January 1, 2026. The bill removes the sunset date and allows on-premise licensees, including distillers, to sell cocktails to-go in a sealed container for carryout. On-premise retail licensees may deliver using employees or third-party agents, while manufacturers may only deliver using employees.

The Senate passed its own bill to make cocktails to-go permanent, SB 141, earlier this session. That bill is awaiting consideration in the House.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 19 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to permanently allow cocktails to-go, and 14 others have enacted laws that allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis. Numerous states are still considering cocktails to-go legislation.