Hold On To Your Liquor Folks! There's a New Liquor Law In Town!

Big changes are brewing regarding serving and selling alcohol across Ohio. S. B 102, which will go into effect on March 23, 2022, will make some much welcomed changes to the current liquor licensing requirements affecting Restaurants, Bars, Hotels, Home Brewers, DORA’s, and more!

Changes for Restaurants, Bars, and Hotels:

• Ohioans who are 18 years or older may now legally serve alcohol as a waiter in a hotel, bar or restaurant.
• Extends H.B 669 until December 31, 2023 which allows a qualified liquor permit holder to expand the area in which it may sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption to its parking area, and any outdoor area of public or private property that is immediately adjacent to the permit holder’s premises (as long as written consent by the property owner is received), and removes micro-distilleries from eligibility to expand outdoor areas.
• Expands the rights of D-2, D-5, and D-5a liquor permit holders to sell cider in growlers (up to one gallon) for on or off premise consumption.
• Restaurant gift cards can now be used for the purchase of alcohol without limitation. Previously only 30% of a gift card could be used on alcohol purchases.

Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORAs):

• Doubles the allowable acreage for DORAs.
• Increases the amount of DORAs allowed in communities.
• Divides the population categories of DORAs into two groups versus three.

Changes for Home Brewers:
The legislation addresses some key issues Ohioans have faced when brewing, serving or hosting events without a valid liquor license, despite the fact it is done in a personal capacity on private property.

• Allows home brewers to brew or ferment homemade beer or wine on an annual basis up to 100 gallons if the household has one person who is 21 or older, or up to 200 gallons if the household has two or more persons who are 21 or older.
• Home brewers may now enter events (as long as they do not receive compensation for the event) at which tasting samples of 2 oz. or less are served, and as applicable receive prizes awarded for their beer or wine.
• In addition to attending/entering events, home brewers may now serve homemade beer or wine at events or host their own event, if the event is held on private property and no fees may be charged for the consumption of the beer or wine.

Additional Changes:

• Allows political or charitable organizations, to give away beer or liquor without a permit as a door prize, silent auction or raffle. (As long as there is proof of purchase, or donation from an Ohio-based agency store.)
• Extends the sale of alcohol on Sundays to mirror the hours alcohol is sold on Monday-Saturday. For example if a bar may sell alcohol between the hours of 9:00am- 1:00am Monday- Saturday, the bar may now sell alcohol between those same hours on Sunday, as long as they have a class D-6 Permit.
• Eases restrictions regarding advertising on premises brand promotion or a product location communication on social media.

For more information regarding Ohio Liquor Laws and how these changes may affect you, please reach out to the Graydon Alcohol and Licensing Group.