2023 Women's World Cup
Alcohol sales and consumption hours are extended for eligible holidays and during select special events such as the Presidential Inauguration and international tournaments when hosted in countries with a large time difference from the U.S.
Since the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup will take place in Australia and New Zealand, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed emergency legislation passed by the DC Council on June 6, 2023, that authorizes extending alcohol service and consumption hours to 4:00 a.m. daily and allows 24 hour operation between July 20-August 20, 2023.
On-Premises Retailers, Manufacturers with an On-Site Sales and Consumption Permit, and Temporary License holders are eligible to participate. Settlement Agreements and Board Orders apply and may affect eligibility.
To participate, licensees must register and pay a non-refundable $100 fee by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 17.
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Alcohol sales, service, and consumption are NOT permitted between 4:00 a.m.-6:00 a.m.
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Registration in ABCA’s Extended Holiday Hours Program and previous World Cup application approvals do not extend to the 2023 Women's World Cup.
If approved, licensees will be issued a permit that must be posted next to their alcohol license inside the premises.
Upcoming Eligible Holidays
The next holiday weekends eligible for extended hours are Labor Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. The registration deadlines are:
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Friday, August 11—Labor Day Weekend (Friday, September 1 - Monday, September 4)
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Friday, September 8—Indigenous Peoples' Day Weekend (Friday, October 6 - Monday, October 9)
Extended hours start the evening of the first date and end at 4:00 a.m. on the last date.
 Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone
The ABC Board will hold a virtual public hearing concerning the renewal of the Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone on Thursday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m.
The ABC Board is seeking comment on an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1C resolution that would increase the number of allowable tavern licenses to 25, if approved. No more than four (4) new tavern licenses would be phased in annually under ANC 1C’s proposal.
While the deadline to testify has passed, written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 14.
West Dupont Circle Moratorium Zone
The current emergency rules adopted by the ABC Board on April 12, 2023, will expire on Thursday, August 10. The existing moratorium, as requested by ANC 2B, maintains a cap on nightclub licenses at zero (0) but excludes Dupont Underground, located below Dupont Circle and Connecticut Avenue NW. A public hearing will be scheduled if a moratorium petition is received.
Questions and written comments for both moratorium zones should be directed to ABCA.Legal@dc.gov.
Fall Alcohol License Renewal Period
The following license types and classes must be renewed by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30, 2023.
Licensees that fail to renew their license by the deadline will be subject to a late fee of $50 per business day. Cease and Desist and License Cancellation Orders will be issued on October 18, 2023, and November 1, 2023, respectively. Renewal packets will be mailed to the addresses on file by mid-August.
Licensees must pay the annual fee plus all late fees by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25. Failure to do so will result in their license being cancelled.
ABCA investigators may issue citations directly to licensees for certain secondary and primary tier violations, including but not limited to:
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Failure to maintain records on premises (primary)
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Operating afterhours (primary)
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Sale to minor (primary)
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No ABC Manager on duty (secondary)
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No Endorsement such as Live Entertainment or Sidewalk Café (secondary)
Citation amounts vary based upon the violation type and the number of previous violations of the same tier within a specific time period. The citation schedule is available in Chapter 8 of Title 23 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.
If a licensee is issued a citation, they must either admit liability and pay the fine or request a hearing within 30-days of the citation being issued. Unpaid citations are referred to the District’s Office of the Attorney General for potential civil prosecution.
Instructions for submitting payment (online recommended) or requesting a hearing are included on the back of the citation.
Compliance Filings Due July 31
Alcohol licensed hotels, restaurants, and caterers must report gross sales and expenditures for alcohol and food for their respective reporting period by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 31.
The reporting period for each license type is as follows:
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Caterers—January 1-June 30
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Hotels and Restaurants— April 1-June 30
Filings must be submitted online. All other formats will be rejected without notification.
Late and non-filers may be subject to fines and license suspension or revocation.
Upcoming Training and Info Sessions
ABCA hosts training and information sessions on an ongoing basis. All sessions are virtual and free with advanced registration. Registration is open for:
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ABC 101 - August 15 | 10:00 a.m.
Introduces new and prospective medical cannabis and alcohol ABC license holders to key ABCA basics, staying current on topics including:
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ABC laws and regulations
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Public comment periods
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Noise abatement
- Inspections and enforcement
- Best practices for building strong neighbor relationships
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ID Compliance - September 18 | 10:00 a.m.
Focuses on preventing underage drinking by reducing youth access to alcohol through retailer education. Participants are introduced to:
- DC and federal laws and regulations
- Acceptable forms of photo identification and identifying counterfeits
- Reporting protocols and confiscations, fines and penalties for violations
- Sale to Minor program
- Helpful resources
ABCA’s office will be closed on Monday, September 4 in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5.
The ABC Board will be in recess between August 17-September 12 and resume meeting on Wednesday, September 13. ABCA’s office will be open throughout this period during normal business hours.
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