REFERENCE: Guidance on Sealed Container Sales for Hotel Licensees
DATE: November 24, 2020
The Liquor Enforcement Division (LED) is issuing this bulletin in order to provide clarifying guidance on the sale of alcohol beverages in sealed containers by hotel licensees who are licensed under 44-3-413, C.R.S.
Due to the enactment of SB 20-213, hotel licensees may sell beverage alcohol in sealed containers for takeout and delivery from their licensed premises. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated difficulties it has caused, LED is allowing hotel licensees to sell sealed alcohol to guests from a location on the licensed premises other than the hotel restaurant/bar where alcohol beverages are typically served. This allowance is, at this time, temporary in nature and offered as a relief measure as we are hearing that many Hotel restaurants/bars are not operable during the pandemic and looking for solutions as to how to ensure access to alcohol beverages for their guests at this time.
In order to take advantage of this temporary ability, the following guidelines must be followed:
- The area from which alcohol beverages are offered for to-go purposes must be located on the licensed premises;
- The alcohol beverages offered must be stored in a secured area that is monitored by a live person (virtual/camera monitoring is not acceptable);
- Guests must have their identification checked and must be assessed for intoxication by a hotel employee prior to the alcohol being removed from the secured area, to ensure that the guests are of legal drinking age and are not visibly intoxicated;
- Warning labels and containers must adhere to the parameters of Regulation 47-1101, 1 CCR 203-2; and
- The hours during which to-go sales of alcohol beverages are completed are limited to takeout hours for Restaurants based on the county’s status on the COVID-19 dial. Alcohol beverages offered for sale through room service are still permitted until 2:00 a.m., regardless of county health level status on the COVID-19 dial.
Please note that all licensees must be in compliance with all applicable state and local health orders and executive orders. We encourage you to regularly consult your local licensing authorities and local public health authorities regarding updated restrictions and allowances as public health guidance is rapidly evolving at this time. We thank you for your continued efforts to ensure the public
health and safety of all Coloradans as we enter this critical time in our fight against the novel coronavirus.
The Division will review this temporary allowance every thirty (30) days. The Division reserves the right to amend or withdraw industry bulletins at any time but will try to give as much forewarning as possible before any such amendment or withdrawal.
Please reach out to: dor_led@state.co.us with any questions you may have regarding this bulletin.
Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division
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