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Department recommends making to‑go alcohol and curbside pickup permanent after four‑year review
Summary
The Department of Liquor and Lottery presented a report under Act 67 showing 7,268 compliance checks from 2021–2024 with 20 violations related to to‑go and curbside alcohol activity; the department recommended removing the sunset and making the off‑premise program permanent, a move industry representatives supported.
Department officials told the Government Operations & Military Affairs committee the Act 67 review found no public‑safety reason to retain the sunset on the off‑premise to‑go alcohol and curbside pickup program. The department reported 7,268 compliance checks from July 2021 through November 2024 and said 20 violations were recorded; of those, one involved a to‑go alcohol sale that lacked a required food order.
The department’s presenter said the violations were minor and not public‑safety related; the report recommended making the to‑go and curbside provisions permanent. “We had presented a report saying that there was no public safety impact,” the presenter told the committee, and the department recommended the legislature see no reason not to make the program permanent.
Amy Spear, president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, testified in support and said the program is a useful tool for restaurants. “While it’s not the largest line of business for any licensee at this time, they are undeniably important for the overall ecosystem in the hospitality sector,” Spear said, adding that permanence would provide operational stability and allow businesses to diversify revenue.
Committee members asked about inspection methodology and geographic coverage. The department said routine compliance inspections and targeted checks after tips produced the 7,268 figure and that enforcement staff are organized in three zones with investigators conducting checks statewide; the presenter said the department would follow up with a breakdown of how many of the inspected licensees were offering a to‑go option.
No committee vote to remove the sunset was recorded in the transcript. Committee staff indicated the item could be moved as an isolated bill at a future meeting; the transcript records discussion of possibly taking the bill up at the committee’s next scheduled session (time mentioned: 1:00).
