 Last month, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure (DMOI) and the Highway Safety Office (HSO) announced that ABCA was awarded a $192,558.40 federal grant to expand its underage drinking prevention and road safety initiatives in Federal Fiscal Year 2024.
This is ABCA’s inaugural grant from the Department of Transportation's (US DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which awards on an annual basis funding to nonprofits and government agencies to reduce traffic-related, fatalities, injuries and crashes.
ABCA grant funding will be used to:
- Increase the number of underage drinking compliance checks at alcohol licensed businesses.
- Expand educational outreach efforts on college and high school campuses.
- Increase the number of ID Compliance Training offerings from two (2) to four (4) sessions. Sessions are virtual and free to participants. Registration is open for the first session scheduled for Monday, December 4 at 10:00 a.m.
- Purchase and distribute domestic and international editions of the 2024 ID Check Guide booklets to alcohol licensed establishments. Updated guides are released in March annually.
- Enable ABCA investigators to identify high-quality fake IDs by deploying a sophisticated phone application.
Direct underage drinking prevention questions to ABCA.Enforcement@dc.gov.
 On November 8, Steven Walker, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor, swore in two members to the ABC Board.
Chairperson Donovan W. Anderson joined the ABC Board as Chairperson on November 3, 2015. Chairperson Anderson will continue in the executive role during his third term. Chairperson Anderson is an accomplished attorney specializing in special education law and is a resident of Ward 7.
Silas H. Grant, Jr. joins former DC Deputy Fire Chief James Short, Jr on the board for an inaugural four-year term. Board member Grant is a resident of Ward 5.
The service term for both newly sworn in board members ends on May 7, 2027. Board member Short’s term expires on May 7, 2024. Board members Bobby Cato, Jeni Hansen, and Edward Grandis fulfilled their Board terms on November 3.
The ABC Board is an independent body that meets to adjudicate, administer, and enforce alcohol and medical cannabis laws. Board members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the DC Council.
ABC Board meetings are open to the public and held virtually on Wednesdays. Streaming instructions and agenda notices can be viewed at abca.dc.gov.
Registered and approved businesses may sell and serve alcohol until 4:00 a.m. and operate 24-hours a day in conjunction with select District Government and federal holidays—12 in total for the upcoming calendar year.
Eligible license types are limited to On-Premises Retailer, Manufacturer with an On-Site Sales and Consumption Permit and Temporary Licenses. Settlement Agreements and Board Orders may restrict eligibility.
To register, licensees must submit an Extended Holiday Hours Registration Form at least 30-days before the first holiday for which they would like to extend hours. Registration is free and forms are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Registration deadlines for eligible holiday periods remaining in 2023 include:
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Friday, November 24 | Christmas Day Weekend
Extended hours start the evening of Friday, December 22 and end at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, December 25.
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Friday, December 1 | New Year's Day Weekend
Extended hours start the evening of Friday, December 29 and end at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, January 1.
A roster of venues eligible to extend their hours for the immediate upcoming holiday is available on ABCA’s website.
 Cooling temperatures mean venues with Sidewalk Café, Summer Garden, and Streatery Endorsements may be preparing to winterize their licensed outdoor spaces and developing inclement weather operating plans.
For businesses considering propane fueled outdoor heaters, they are reminded to secure DC Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department approval prior to installation.
Additionally, outdoor heaters utilizing propane should:
- Not be located inside of a structure or within five (5) feet of building entrances or exits.
- Not be located beneath or within five (5) feet of combustible surfaces.
- Have “No Smoking” signs posted nearby.
- Be clear of litter and other combustible items.
If snow accumulation occurs, sidewalks must be cleared within eight (8) hours of a storm’s conclusion. If a snow emergency is declared, streateries are not permitted to operate.
 ABCA hosts training and information sessions on an ongoing basis. All sessions are virtual and free with advanced registration. Registration is open for:
ID Compliance | Monday, December 4 at 10:00 a.m.
This course focuses on the prevention of underage drinking by reducing youth access to alcohol through retailer education. Participants will be introduced to:
- DC and federal laws and regulations
- Acceptable forms of photo identification
- Tips and tools for verifying authentic photo IDs and identifying counterfeits
- Reporting and confiscation protocol
- Fines and penalties for violations
- Sale to Minor program
Funded by US DOT/NHTSA and DMOI/HSO
ABC 101 - Tuesday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m.
This course introduces new and prospective alcohol licensees to key alcohol operator basics including:
- DC alcohol laws and regulations
- Public comment periods
- Sound management
- Inspections and enforcement
- Settlement Agreements
- Best practices
View ABCA's training schedule and past recordings.
ABCA Office Closure and ABC Board Schedule
The ABC Board will recess for winter break after Thursday, December 14 and reconvene on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
The 2024 ABC Board calendar will be published in late November. The 2023 meeting schedule along with streaming instructions and agendas is available at abca.dc.gov.
Upcoming Office Closures
ABCA’s office will be closed for the following holidays:
- Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 23
- Christmas Day | Monday, December 25
- New Year's Day | Monday, January 1, 2024
ABCA's office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on the business day immediately following each holiday.
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