Monday, March 16, 2020 www.nabca.org • Ohio Division of Liquor Control Allowing Return of High Proof Liquor Products • Texas Now Allowing Trucks From Alcohol Industry To Deliver Supplies To Grocery Stores TODAY’S • Discussion on Nagaland liquor prohibition act attracts many HIGHLIGHTS • Federal Disease Chief Urges a Shutdown of Restaurants • Bar Closures and Restaurant Restrictions to Take Place Across the U.S. Due to Coronavirus Outbreak NABCA NEWS CONTROL STATE NEWS 83RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE PA: Pa. to close state liquor stores starting Monday Registration for NABCA’s Annual Conference at our MediaNews Group new location is open. To register, please visit our March 15, 2020 website at www.nabca.org/meeting. HARRISSBURG — The coronavirus outbreak is about to cut off sales of wine and alcohol at state stores in TTB Alcohol Trade Practice Video Series several Pennsylvania counties. TTB provides on-demand alcohol educational The state is moving to close the doors on stores in information Videos: https://www.ttb.gov/news/see-our-new- Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks ttb-trade-practice-video-series) Counties on Tuesday as the state continues to attack the spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19. Most stores were open regular hours on Sunday. On NABCA WEBINAR Monday, things start changing. Here's what the NEW! Women. Alcohol. Health. - From Blackouts to state has in mind. Breast Cancer. webinar is now available on our website. Visit www.nabca.org/Resources/Webinars OH: Ohio Division of Liquor Control Allowing Return of High Proof Liquor Products JOB OPPORTUNITY We are seeking a dynamic Metropreneur and experienced professional to serve as the Chief By Anne Evans Information Officer. If you have professional March 15, 2020 experience managing all phases of information In light of the developing Coronavirus issue in Ohio, technology projects for an organization within a on March 14, 2020, it was announced that bars and consumer packaged goods/retail industry, the PLCB restaurants will be allowed to return a high proof wants to talk to you! liquor product, purchased within the past 30 days. Please visit https://www.employment.pa.gov for more information and to apply. Applications will be The process is noted to be easy and permitted, accepted through March 23, 2020 hoping to provide some help for small businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic in Ohio. The Ohio Restaurant Association is keeping a list of resources of developing changes that bars and restaurants should be aware of. 2 How to Return Liquor in Ohio During the delivery. What we can’t have is people congregating Coronavirus Pandemic: and seated.” • All a bar/restaurant or F2 permit holder needs to Resources for Bars and Restaurants About do is bring the unopened product back to the Coronavirus: Agency from which they purchased the product. For resources, visit OhioRestaurant.org, and the • The Agencies will call the Liquor Enterprise Ohio Department of Health’s website specifically for Service Center (LESC) for approval. Approval is Coronavirus updates. For resources to help one deal immediate, but awareness of the return is with the stress and mental toll of the Coronavirus necessary. pandemic in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov. • For questions or more information regarding the one-time high proof liquor buy back, please feel MI: Michigan AG Urges Restaurant Industry to ‘Act free to contact the LESC at 877-812-0013 or Responsibly’ When It Comes to New Capacity Rules [email protected] Bars could have their liquor licenses revoked and owners • This courtesy also extends to those who may could be charged with misdemeanors for not observing have obtained a temporary permit (F2) for an the new executive orders event, scheduled between 3/12 – 4/6, and that Eater event is now cancelled. Additional consideration by Brenna Houck will be given closer to 4/6 if needed. March 15, 2020 As of March 15, 2020, bars and restaurants have As reports flowed in of large gatherings moving been ordered to close to the public. Establishments forward ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, the Michigan can stay open for carry-out and delivery. (updated state attorney general’s office held a press 3:54pm to reflect Governor Mike DeWine’s latest conference on Sunday calling on business owners to update). “act responsibly” and observe capacity rules to slow Scott Ellsworth, owner of Thr3es and Fours, has the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. made the decision to close both bars until the Governor Gretchen Whitmer enacted an emergency pandemic recedes. order banning gatherings of 250 people or more on “Our staff and customers mean too much to us and March 13 to enforce “social distancing” across the our responsibility is to keep them safe,” Ellsworth state. Meanwhile, Oakland and Ingham counties are noted in a Facebook post. “Your well being is and in the process of enacting rules to reduce capacity at always will be more important than our bottom restaurants, bars, and other venues by 50 percent. line.” Attorney General Dana Nessel told attendees that Ellsworth says the offer from the state is nice but the state would be enforcing rules on capacity and he’s unsure if he will use it, and thinks the 30 day that business owners would be facing purchase date may need to be extended. misdemeanors and the possibility of losing their liquor license if they did not heed the warnings. “If we can be back open in a month or so, it’s Patrons will not be cited. “I think what bars and doubtful we’ll use this,” he says. “It depends on how restaurants have to appreciate is that it’s much long we stay closed. It’s a nice offer from them better for them to stay open right now… than to be though, because I’m sure there’s plenty of bars that closed down for an indefinite period of time for not will help.” following the order,” Nessel said. Michelle Hill, owner of St James Tavern, has also While the statewide rule only requires disbanding closed her bar for the next two weeks. groups of 250 or more at this time, state lawmakers Update 3:54pm: Governor Mike DeWine has and representatives for the service industry “urge ordered all bars and restaurants to close beginning people to consider going further,” Linda Vail, health at 9pm on Sunday, March 15. Via twitter: officer for Ingham county said during the briefing. “Establishments can stay open for carry-out and “One-size does not fit all in establishments,” she 3 said. “An establishment with a capacity of 250 is still you need to tip them the same way you would if you crowded with a capacity of 250.” were dining in.” Oakland County executive Dave Coulter reiterated Oakland County’s new rules on reduced capacity will that message. “The number isn’t as magical as the take effect on Monday, March 16. distance and the size,” of the establishment, Coulter said at the press conference. The 50 percent reduction of capacity “may seem drastic to some WY: Legislature works to ease challenges for folks,” he said, but warned that it still might not be Wyoming's microbrewing industry enough. “We’re going to continue to monitor that Douglas Budget and may take even more drastic measures.” By Nick Reynolds Justin Winslow, president of the Michigan March 15, 2020 Restaurant & Lodging Association was also present CHEYENNE – Inside the walls of the former at the event to lend support to the new measures. Minuteman Print Shop on 19th Street, dust swirled “It is rare for me on this issue to find myself as Tim Barnes, co-founder of the Wyoming Brewer’s advocating for this sort of action,” Winslow said. Guild and Sheridan-based Blacktooth Brewing, “We have strongly recommended to all of our showed off features of his soon-to-open brewery in members to heed the governor’s executive order.” the state capital. Restaurant owners care about their workforce and their guests and are doing their best to offer service There was a reclaimed barn door from a ranch on through carryout and delivery, he said. the edge of town, his two serving stations for busy nights, and the original 10-barrel brewing system Scott Ellis of the Michigan Licensed Beverage from his first brewery more than 300 miles up I-25. Association also took the mic to implore business Broad windows brought natural light into this owners to take appropriate action. “Bars and former industrial space and, in the corner, a stage restaurants are known as gathering places, so it will was already set up, ready to host bands on warm, already be a tough year [economically],” he said. By summer weekends. reducing capacity and disbanding large events, the state and hospitality industries “hope to avoid a For Barnes, Cheyenne made sense. While brewers in complete shutdown” of business as has been the states such as Oregon, Washington and Colorado case in countries like Italy. “Many face irrecoverable have seen their most successful breweries go losses if we don’t get this under control,” he said, national, those in places like Montana, South but a shutdown could “cripple Michigan’s hospitality Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska – due to population industry.” and geography – face difficulties growing far beyond their borders. Factors like Wyoming’s low In addition to reiterating the rules regarding public population and its longstanding water scarcity gatherings, Nessel also took time to address reports naturally limit the scale of its brewing industry. of price gouging. According to an Michigan executive order, it is now illegal to resell a product “The largest appeal has been staying local and being for a price that is “grossly in excess of the price” for recognized in your own market,” Barnes said.