Last Call Newsletter: September-October 2024

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT 

ABCA's Last Call Newsletter

September-October 2024

African-American curly-haired woman speaking into megaphone.

ABCA's Moving!

Our new address as of Monday, November 18, 2024, will be 899 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. ABCA's alcohol and medical cannabis divisions will have their own dedicated and larger customer service lobbies on the same floor. The respective suite number should be included in postal communications.

Medical Cannabis Division—Suite 4200-A
Alcohol Division—Suite 4200-B
This is an important step for ABCA, as it will allow us to co-locate our fast-growing medical cannabis and alcohol divisions to better serve customers.

ABCA’s new office is just a short walk from the Union Station Metro Station on the Red Line and is served by several bus lines and Capital Bikeshare stations. Paid street parking and public parking garages are located nearby.

We do not anticipate any disruption in service except for our office being closed on Friday, November 15. If you have any questions about the move, email ABCA.director@dc.gov.

In the immediate, continue to mail postal communications to our current location (2000 14th Street, Suite 400 South, Washington, DC, 20009) until Friday, November 15.


Old-timey clock basked in sunlight.

Extended Hours

Alcohol sales and service have been extended until 4:00 a.m. for registered businesses during the following holiday weekends and special events during the indicated dates.

Special Events

Dine All Night and Art All Night—running September 19-29 and September 27-28, 2024, respectively.

Extended hours start the evening of Thursday, September 19, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 29.

Venues registered as a Dine or Art All Night host through the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) are also permitted to offer entertainment until 11:00 p.m. outdoors and until 2:00 a.m. indoors.

A roster of eligible businesses is available on ABCA’s website. Registration for extended hours has closed.

Holidays

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Weekend | Registration Deadline: Closed
Extended hours start the evening of Friday, October 11, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, October 14.

Veterans Day Weekend | Registration Deadline: Monday, November 11
Extended hours start the evening of Friday, November 8, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, November 11.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend | Registration Deadline: Monday, October 28
Extended hours start the evening of Wednesday, November 27, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 1.

Applications for the standard extended holiday hours program are accepted on a rolling basis and there is no registration fee.

View the 2024 Extended Holiday Hours Schedule.

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 3. Clocks must “fall back,” or be turned back by one (1) hour. Licensees that normally end alcohol service at 2:00 a.m. will automatically gain an additional hour to serve alcohol.

Licensees that have a Settlement Agreement or ABC Board Order limiting closing hours to 1:00 a.m. or earlier are not eligible to participate.


Friendly male bartender standing in front of bar.

Dram Shop Law, New ABC Manager Endorsement 

DC law requires Manufacturers and Off- and On-Premises Retailers to have either the license holder or an ABC Manager on duty and physically onsite to legally sell and serve alcohol.

In March 2024, the DC Council passed, and Mayor Muriel Bowser signed, DC Law 25-162 the Restaurant Revitalization and Dram Shop Clarification Amendment Act of 2024, which includes a provision to help businesses more nimbly meet the ABC Manager requirement. The law modifies and codifies alcohol licensee dram shop liability in Title 25 of the DC Code. 

Now a business may choose between:

STANDARD OPTION
Scheduling at least one (1) employee holding an ABC Manager License while open to the public. ABC Manager licenses are issued to and maintained by the individual named on the license and not any business.

OR

NEW OPTION
Securing an ABC Manager Endorsement which permits the business to designate up to five (5) employees of their choosing as ABC Managers. Up to five (5) additional employees for a total of 10 employees may be designated as ABC Managers for a per person registration fee. A business may substitute, add, and/or remove employees as needed. The endorsement is issued to and maintained by the business for the valid period of its alcohol license. Each designated ABC Manager will be issued individual licenses in their name and the name of the establishment.

Direct questions to ABCA.AlcoholLicensing@dc.gov.


Close up of dates on desk calendar

Deadlines: Annual Payments, Quarterly Compliance 

Class B Annual Payments—Monday, September 30

Second-year payments for all Class B license types and Class C and D Taverns and Nightclubs must be paid in full by close of business (4:00 p.m.) on the deadline.

License fees and the renewal schedule are available online.

Licensees that fail to submit payment may be subject to late fees and potential license cancellation.

Direct questions to ABCA.AlcoholLicensing@dc.gov.

Compliance Filings—Wednesday, October 30

Hotel, Restaurant, and Brew Pub license holders must file a quarterly statement detailing sales and expense activity that occurred between April 1 and June 30, 2024. Filings must be submitted online.

Compliance filings must be submitted regardless of whether alcohol, food sales and expenditures total zero. Failure to submit timely and accurate reports may result in penalties or license suspension or revocation or affect renewal eligibility.

Direct questions to ABCA.Compliance@dc.gov.

Class B Annual Payments—September 30

Second-year payments are due by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 30, 2024, for:

  • All Class B licenses
  • Class C and D Taverns and Nightclubs 

View the license fee and renewal schedule. Licensees that fail to renew or submit payment will be subject to late fees and potential license cancellation.  

Invoices were mailed in mid-August. If you have not received your invoice, email ABCA’s Licensing Division at ABCA.AlcoholLicensing@dc.gov. Please include "Annual Payment" in the subject line and the trade name, license number, licensed premises address, mailing address, and phone number in the email body.


Several golden spotlights shining onto black stage.

Spotlight: Leaving the Premises with Open or Closed Containers

Licensees are reminded that their staff may not permit patrons to leave their licensed premises with an open alcoholic beverage container including “to go” cocktail bags. Allowing patrons to do so may result in fines and or license suspension and/or revocation.

Patrons may leave an alcohol licensed restaurant or a hotel with partially consumed bottle(s) of wine and/or spirits—commonly referred to as a “doggy bag”—purchased from the business if the container is sealed and bagged by staff. Doggy bags are not permitted for open beer containers.

The public can report suspected violations anonymously online.

Direct questions to ABCA.Enforcement@dc.gov.


Computer Monitor with ABCA background

Training and Information Sessions 

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

ID Compliance | Monday, September 23 | 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 DC HSO. 

ABC 101 | Tuesday, October 22 | 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.  


Red "sorry we're closed" hanging sign

ABCA Office Closures 

ABCA will be closed for the below dates and will reopen at 8:30 a.m. the following business day:

  • Monday, October 14 | Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Monday, November 11 | Veterans Day
  • Thursday, November 28 | Thanksgiving Day

The ABC Board will be in recess on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, October 16
  • Wednesday, November 13
  • Wednesday, November 27

The ABC Board and Office Calendar are on ABCA's website.


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