Last Call Newsletter: May/June 2024

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT 

ABCA's Last Call Newsletter

May/June 2024

Golden spotlights on dark stage

ABCA issues Statement on Naloxone Possession, Administration

In response to DC’s ongoing opioid epidemic, ABCA issued a statement last month reaffirming its strong support for alcohol licensed businesses maintaining and administering Naloxone, commonly referred to by the brand name “Narcan”, on-premises to reverse opioid-related drug overdoses as needed. 

Additionally, the statement: 

  • Encourages licensees to coordinate staff training in opioid overdose prevention and the administration of Naloxone and distributes overdose prevention literature on-premises.
  • Makes clear that no licensee that promotes, stores, or administers naloxone on-premises will be subject to disciplinary action by ABCA. 

For additional opioid prevention and treatment resources, visit the District Government’s online one-stop hub for ending the city’s opioid epidemic at livelong.dc.gov or email naloxone@dc.gov.

A recording of the Increasing Awareness of Opioid Overdose Risk & Treatment Resources info session co-hosted with the District’s Department of Behavioral Health is also available online.

Read the full statement.


African American woman in red plaid flannel speaking into a red and white bullhorn

Class A Liquor Store Licenses Becoming Available 

A to-be-determined number of Off-Premises Retailer Class A (Liquor Store)licenses will be announced via email on Monday, June 10. 

DC law caps liquor store licenses at 250 with one (1) license last becoming available in June 2023. Licenses in safekeeping count towards the cap.

Interested parties must submit a complete Alcohol License Application whether requesting a new license or a license class change. Applications will be accepted via email, mail, or in person on a first come, first served basis starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 24.

Early and/or incomplete applications will be rejected. Incompleteness includes but is not limited to failure to complete all required fields or include entity documents or a valid lease.

License fee and renewal schedule information is available online. Direct questions to ABCA.AlcoholLicensing@dc.gov. 


People gathered at an outside cafe sitting at tables under umbrellas

Outdoor Service Endorsements, Cannabis on Patios

As summertime nears, patrons will increasingly be seeking outdoor drinking and dining options. Before a business may sell, serve, or allow the consumption of alcohol outdoors, it must have the appropriate endorsement type. Available endorsements include: 

  • Sidewalk Café—Permits alcohol service in outdoor PUBLIC space such as the sidewalk directly in front of a business.
  • Summer Garden—Permits alcohol service in outdoor PRIVATE space such as a courtyard or rooftop.
  • Streatery—Permits alcohol service in outdoor PUBLIC or PRIVATE space on new and expanded ground floor or street level space not included on license. 

Sidewalk Café and Summer Garden Endorsements are valid for the duration of the alcohol license. Streatery Endorsements are valid through December 31, 2024.

Regardless of the endorsement type or combination thereof, no business may permit the smoking or consumption of cannabis products on-premises (indoor or outdoor). 

Medical cannabis may only be consumed outdoors on private space at licensed medical cannabis Retailers (formerly called dispensaries) possessing a Summer Garden Endorsement. As of May 24, 2024, no such Retailer has been issued such an endorsement.

Alcohol endorsements may be requested on an initial Alcohol License Application or anytime afterward. Board Orders and Settlement Agreements may affect eligibility. 

Direct endorsement questions to ABCA.AlcoholLicensing@dc.gov.


POC male bartender standing in front of bar/bottles holding a tablet

Dram Shop Law, New ABC Manager Endorsement 

The majority of US jurisdictions have statutory dram shop laws that determine grounds for liability generally on a negligence basis for selling alcohol to an intoxicated person and/or underage person. The District of Columbia has been one of the few remaining jurisdictions that imposes dram shop liquor liability on alcohol licensees as a result of common law court decisions. 

In March 2024, the DC Council passed and Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Restaurant Revitalization and Dram Shop Clarification Amendment Act of 2024, which modifies and codifies alcohol licensee dram shop liability in Title 25 of the DC Code. 

These legislative changes bring DC more in line with other jurisdictions and are intended to reduce the cost of liquor liability insurance for licensees. The legislation is currently under congressional review and has a projected law date of Wednesday, June 5, 2024. 

Additionally, the Act created a new alcohol endorsement type that also has a projected effective date of June 5. Manufacturer and Off- and On-Premises Retailer license holders will be able to apply for an ABC Manager Endorsement which will permit them to register up to five (5) employees as ABC Managers.  

DC law requires either the licensee or at least one licensed ABC Manager to be on duty and on-premises to sell or serve alcohol. 

Currently, ABC Manager licenses are issued to and maintained by the person named on the license and are not controlled by any venue, even if paid for by them. The new endorsement type will be associated with the business’s alcohol license and will enable the licensee to add or replace persons as ABC Managers as needed. 

A business will be able to request to add more than the permitted five (5) employees at an additional annual cost per employee.


Close up of old-timey clock

Extended Hours This Summer 

Extended hours for standard eligible holidays this summer include:  

  • Independence Day Weekend | Deadline: Tuesday, June 4 
    Extended hours start the evening of Wednesday, July 3, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 4. 
  • Labor Day Weekend | Deadline: Monday, August 5 
    Extended hours start the evening of Friday, August 30, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, September 2.  

Licensees must submit an Extended Holiday Hours Application at least 30 days before the first holiday they would like to participate in. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and there is no participation fee.  


Gavel and open law books

Public Hearing: Langdon Park Moratorium Zone

The ABC Board will hold a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5, to hear comments on the renewal of the Langdon Park Moratorium Zone. The moratorium has been in effect since 2017 and expires on June 11, 2024. 

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C has requested the moratorium be renewed for three (3) years with modifications including:  

  • Prohibiting all medical cannabis business types. 
  • Allowing Multipurpose Facilities that offer “family-friendly” programming. 
  • Eliminating the prohibition on new Entertainment Endorsements for restaurants and taverns. 
  • Expanding the boundaries to include nearby properties that house production, distribution, and repair businesses. 
  • Renaming the zone the “Arboretum/Gateway/Langdon Alcohol/Cannabis Moratorium Zone”. 

A copy of the ANC’s resolution and the public hearing notice is available on ABCA’s website.  

Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone 

In April 2024, the ABC Board approved the Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone Notice of Fifth Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking. The emergency rules remain in effect for 120 days, expiring on August 9, 2024, unless superseded by an emergency or final rulemaking.

The rulemaking: 

  • Renews the Adams Morgan Moratorium for three (3) years. 
  • Increases the cap on CT, DT, CX, and DX retailer licenses to 16. 
  • Maintains all other restrictions in the existing moratorium. 

 The proposed rules are being submitted to the Council for a 90-day review period.  


Close up of dates on desk calendar

July 1Solicitor License Annual Payment 

Second-year annual payments must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 1. Failure to meet the deadline may result in late fees and license suspension and/or revocation. The annual license fee and renewal schedule is available at abca.dc.gov. 

July 30—Compliance Filings  

  • Filings must be submitted by:  
    • Hotels, Restaurants, and Brew Pub license holders for activity that occurred between April 1 and June 30 (Q2)  
    • Caterer and Third-Party Delivery license holders for activity that occurred between January 1 and June 30.  

Filings must be completed online and regardless of whether there were no sales or purchase transactions. Fines for late filings may be assessed starting on Tuesday, July 2. Questions should be directed to ABCA.Compliance@dc.gov.   


Computer Monitor with ABCA background

Upcoming Training and Information Sessions

ABCA offers training and information sessions throughout the year. Offerings are virtual and free with advanced registration. 

ID Compliance
June 10 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. |   REGISTER

This course focuses on the prevention of underage drinking by reducing youth access to alcohol through retailer education. Participants will learn how to identify acceptable and counterfeit photo identification, confiscation protocol, and the Sale to Minor program. Funded by US DOT/NHTSA and DMOI/HSO. 

ABC 101June 11  |  10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | REGISTER
This course introduces new and prospective licensees to key alcohol operator basics such as local laws, enforcement, and best practices. 

View ABCA's complete training schedule and available recordings


Red "sorry we're closed" hanging sign

ABCA Office Closures, ABC Board Recess

ABCA's office will be closed on the below dates and reopen at 8:30 a.m. the following business day. 

  • Monday, May 27 | Memorial Day 
  • Wednesday, June 19 | Juneteenth  
  • Thursday, July 4 | Independence Day  

 ABC Board Recess

The ABC Board will be in recess on the below dates and will resume the following Wednesday.  

  • Wednesday, May 29
  • Wednesday, June 19
  • Wednesday, July 3

View the 2024 ABCA Office Calendar and ABC Board schedule


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