Signed by Governor JB Pritzker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes the sale of to-go cocktails.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the sale of to-go cocktails or mixed drinks via a curbside pickup (Sec. 5).

• Requires to-go cocktails to be placed in the trunk of a car or in the backseat if there is no trunk (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits the sale of to-go cocktails under the following circumstances (Sec. 5):

• A third party delivers the cocktail;

• A container is not tamper-evident and sealed;

• A container is transported in the passenger area of a vehicle;

• A cocktail is delivered by a person or to one under 21 years of age; or

• The person delivering the cocktails faults to verify the customer’s age.

• Prohibits late filing fees for any liquor license holder whose business operations have been suspended on or after March 16, 2020 (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that all late filing fees are waived for 6 months until after whichever of the following dates occurs the latest (Sec. 5):

• The day on which the region where the business is located enters Phase 4 of the governor’s Restore Illinois plan;

• The day after the expiration of the governor’s executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic; or

• The day after the expiration of the Department of Public Health’s orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Authorizes businesses whose business operations have been suspended due to the pandemic to defer their liquor license fees for 6 months until after whichever of the aforementioned dates occurs the latest (Sec. 5). 

• Authorizes the automatic approval and extension of liquor licenses for 120 days after whichever of the aforementioned dates occurs the latest (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that this bill repeals itself one year after the effective date of this bill (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that this bill takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 99).

Full Bill Text