McHenry Times

Illinois state Rep Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) recently shared the news that Illinois' cocktails-to-go law has been extended five additional years. He made the announcement on a social media post.

“Illinois' cocktails-to-go law has been extended for five more years,” Ugaste said in a July 3 Facebook post, The post included a link to a news report about the topic.

Restaurants in Illinois will be allowed to serve cocktails to go until Aug. 1, 2028, after the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 0089, which Gov. JB Pritzker signed on June 9; a recent press release from his office said. The trend started during the pandemic as the state passed a bill that allowed sales of cocktails and mixed beverages in sealed containers to be sold as to-go orders to individuals who are 21 or older. The original bill would have expired on Jan. 3, 2024, according to a June 22 press release issued by Pritzker’s office.

SB0089 was filed on Jan. 20 by Illinois state Sen. Napoleon Harris III (D-Dolton). It moved to the House on March 23. In the House of Representatives, the chief sponsor was Illinois state Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Romeoville). It moved back to the Senate for consideration of House Amendments. The Senate concurred with amendments on May 24 and the bill passed both houses that day.

WGN reported that the passage of the bill does not mean open containers may be transported by passengers or drivers in vehicles. The news outlet also noted that there are communities with rules on open containers in public spaces. The requirements of the bill state that drinks “must be packaged in a sealed, tamper-evident container; the container must be labeled with information that includes the cocktail or mixed drink name and ingredients, the name(s) of the alcohol in the drink, and that the sealed container was filled less than seven days before the date of sale.” Additionally, the drinks must be transported in the trunk or rear compartment of a vehicle and not easily accessed by passengers.

“We are happy that the Illinois hospitality industry can continue to receive the economic benefits of cocktails to-go, however, we want to ensure retailers and consumers are able to easily comply with the requirements of the law,” Lisa Gardner, executive director of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, said in the press release from Pritzker's office. “It is the ILCC's responsibility to safeguard the public by ensuring that to-go cocktails are safely transported.”