BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
The Millbrook City Council last week approved an amendment to an ordinance concerning the sale of Draft Beer and Permitting the Sale of Draft Beer or Keg Beer in the corporate limits of the city.
“This would include off-premises sales by properly licensed businesses,” the ordinance reads.
We reached out to the Alabama Beverage Control Board for a clearer understanding of what this means for area businesses who have liquor licenses.
Questions directed to us from readers show there is some confusion as to who could sell Kegs, and if this also means that beer in containers could be sold “To Go.”
We learned from ABC that their local stores will not be selling keg beer, due to the need for coolers and storage.
Dean Argo is the Manager of Government Relations & Communications for the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. He kindly answered our questions, clarifying some confusion over what this type of ordinance means.
“Licensees won’t need a separate license from the ABC Board for keg or draught. Local governments control the ability to sell these,” Argo said. “State law defines a keg as follows: ‘A pressurized factory sealed container with a capacity equal to or greater than five US gallons, from which beer is withdrawn by means of an external tap.’”
“Licensees should also reference ABC Rules and Regulations 20-X-6-.18, Draft Beer for Off-Premises Consumption. Bars and restaurants holding on-premise licenses are no longer allowed to sell alcohol to go. This was allowed by an emergency rule during the pandemic and only allowed to go sales in sealed, unopened containers, but that rule expired. Only licensees with a license that allows off-premises sales will be able to sell to go and all alcohol sales must be in sealed containers,” Argo told the EAN.
As for where kegs can be purchased, it will not be through ABC stores, Argo said.
“The ABC Board only sells spirits. Our stores do not sell beer or wine. Licensees with restaurant retail liquor licenses can currently only sell for on-premises consumption. Privately-owned package stores will be able to sell kegs. Any retail licensee of the Board, whose local governing authority allows the sale of draft beer and who is licensed to sell beer for off-premises consumption, will be able to sell draft beer,” Argo said.
