Alcohol deliveries in Crystal Lake could be extended another year

The Crystal Lake City Council will vote on whether to let restaurants and bars keep making carry-out, curbside and residential deliveries of packaged liquor for another year at its upcoming meeting Tuesday.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many restaurants and retail businesses were facing challenges because of social distancing guidelines, Crystal Lake temporarily approved certain expansions to alcohol deliveries.

Following a decision by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission to allow for the delivery and take-out of packaged alcoholic liquor by businesses, the city’s liquor commissioner in March 2020 authorized this to happen in Crystal Lake as well, according to a supplement attached to Tuesday’s meeting agenda.

In June 2021, the Crystal Lake City Council adopted an ordinance allowing all retail liquor license holders to temporarily make carry-out, curbside delivery and home residential deliveries of liquor, beer and wine in its original packaging until Dec. 31.

“In order to prevent any adverse impact on the city’s restaurant and bar establishments” that wish to continue delivering alcohol, city staff is proposing that the city extend this authorization until the end of next year, according to the agenda supplement.

Liquor license holders wanting to deliver beyond that Dec. 31, 2022, date that do not have a license that includes the sale of packaged alcoholic liquor will have to move to a liquor license category allowing this type of sale, according to the supplement.

At Tuesday’s meeting, city council members also will vote on extending restaurants and bars’ abilities to deliver and provide mixed drinks and cocktails to go until 2024.

Last year, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission made it so mixed drinks and cocktails could be taken to go and delivered, granted they had the beverages sealed in an approved container. Then, in June of this year, the General Assembly passed legislation authorizing the practice until Jan. 3, 2024.

While Crystal Lake already has an ordinance allowing to-go mixed drinks and cocktails at a local level, on Tuesday, council members will vote on whether the city should mirror legislation adopted by the state extending the period for “to go” drinks through Jan. 3, 2024, as well.

The Crystal Lake City Council is set to meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall on 100 W. Woodstock St.