Alabama ABC Board Ties Alcohol Enforcement to State Health Directives

Published 8:56 am Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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September 29, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Dean R. Argo (334) 213-6330

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The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board during a special called meeting today adopted an emergency rule requiring all on-premises licensees to abide by the directives of the State Health Officer. The Board voted 3-0 to approve emergency rule 20-X-6-.21ER.

At a minimum, licensees are required to admit no more than fifty-percent (50%) of the occupancy limits, require each patron to wear a face covering, stay a minimum of six feet (6’) distance between individuals and groups, and maintain and encourage the use of hand sanitizers at all entrances.

Any ABC licensee found to be in violation of this emergency order or any subsequent directive of the State Health Officer shall be subject to immediate suspension of their ABC license pursuant to Code of Alabama 1975 §28-3A-24(b) and §41-22-19(d).

Emergency rule 20-X-6-.21ER immediately replaces emergency rule 20-X-6-.20ER, adopted by the Board on August 1, 2020. Under that regulation, licensees were required to end alcohol sales by 11:00 PM and alcohol purchased prior to 11:00 had to be consumed by 11:30 PM.

By law, the new emergency rule will be in effect for a maximum of 120 days, unless the Board votes to modify or rescind it.