ABCA Director Reconfirmed for Four-Year Term
Fred Moosally was unanimously reconfirmed as the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) by the DC Council on October 21, 2025, with his current term set to end in July 2029.
Director Moosally has helmed the agency since 2009, previously serving as the agency’s General Counsel for seven years. His efforts have earned ABCA national accolades, including the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association’s Agency of the Year (2018) and Innovative Alcohol Law Enforcement Program of the Year (2017 and 2020).
To reach Director Moosally, email ABCADirector@dc.gov.
Fall, Winter Extended Holiday Hour Opportunities, 2026 Calendar
The holiday season is upon us! Alcohol licensed venues registered in the Extended Holiday Hours Program may sell and serve alcohol until 4:00 a.m. in conjunction with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Eligible On-Premises Retailer, Manufacturer with an On-Site Sales and Consumption Permit, and Temporary License holders must be registered in the program within 30-days of the first holiday they want to participate.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and cover the remaining scheduled dates indefinitely unless prohibited by Board Order or Settlement Agreement. There is no fee to participate.
Extended hours and registration deadlines for the upcoming holidays are as follows:
- Thanksgiving Day Weekend
Extended hours start the evening of Wednesday, November 26, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 30.
Registration Deadline: Passed
- Christmas Day and Weekend
Extended hours start the evening of Wednesday, December 24, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 25. Extended hours continue the evening of Friday, December 26, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 28.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, November 25
- New Year's Day
Extended hours start the evening of Wednesday, December 31, and end at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 1.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, December 2
ABC Board Recess, Office Closure Schedule
The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis (ABC) Board has announced its upcoming recess schedule for late 2025 and has made its 2026 meeting calendar available online.
The ABC Board will be in recess during the following dates:
- Wednesday, November 26, 2025
- Wednesday, December 17 – Wednesday, December 31, 2025
During recesses, the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) offices generally maintain normal business hours, except on federal or District government holidays.
ABCA's office will be closed on the following holidays:
- Thursday, November 27 | Thanksgiving Day
- Thursday, December 25 | Christmas Day
- Thursday, January 1, 2026 | New Year's Day
However, ABCA investigators will continue to respond to complaints during these closures. Complaints are strongly encouraged to be submitted online at abca.dc.gov.
Security Camera Requirements and Responsibilities
Maintaining your security cameras is not just about following the rules—it is crucial for public safety, helping law enforcement solve crimes, and protecting your business and patrons.
Security camera requirements for Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) licensees are detailed in section 25-836 Licensee Use of Security of the D.C. Official Code.
Licensees with security cameras must ensure the following requirements are consistently met:
- Operational Status: Cameras must be fully operational and actively recording whenever the establishment is open to the public.
- Footage Retention: Establishments are required to maintain video footage of violent crimes, including those involving a gun, for a minimum of 30 days.
- Footage Availability: Upon request by ABCA or the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), licensees must make relevant video footage available within 48 hours.
- Operational Standards: The security camera system must comply with all established operational standards.
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Reporting Non-operational Cameras: If a security camera becomes non-operational, the ABC Board must be notified within ten (10) calendar days, and proof of repair or replacement must be provided. Report non-operational cameras to ABCA.Enforcement@dc.gov.
Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant penalties. The ABC Board has the authority to enforce provisions of Title 25 of the D.C. Official Code.
- Fines: Licensees may be subject to substantial fines for violations. For example, failure to provide footage within 48 hours has resulted in fines of $2,500 in some cases.
- License Suspension or Revocation: The Board may suspend or revoke a license for failure to comply with security camera regulations or a Board order.
- Indefinite Suspension: Failure to pay fines within the specified timeframe (usually 30 days) can lead to the indefinite suspension of the license until the fines are paid in full.
- Interference with Investigation: Tampering with evidence or failing to allow ABCA or MPD to examine records or footage can lead to additional severe penalties for interfering with an investigation.
Licensees are encouraged to review the official ABC Laws and Regulations on the ABCA website to ensure full compliance and avoid these penalties.
Direct questions to ABCA.Legal@dc.gov.
Moratorium Zone Update
The ABC Board has two emergency moratoria in effect, adopted on September 24, 2025, which will both expire on Thursday, January 22, 2026. These rules were adopted to address community concerns related to public safety, noise, and parking issues in specific neighborhoods.
North Shaw (Westminster) Moratorium Zone
This moratorium, requested by the Westminster Neighborhood Association, imposes several restrictions within 600 feet in all directions from 1909 9th Street NW:
- License Cap: It caps the number of new Nightclub (CN/DN), Tavern (CT/DT), and Multipurpose Facility (CX/DX) licenses.
- Entertainment Endorsements: It prohibits the issuance of new entertainment endorsements or modifications to current endorsements for any on-premises licensed Restaurant or Tavern within the zone.
Gateway/Langdon Park Moratorium Zone
This moratorium, requested by Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 5C, applies to the area's established boundaries:
- License Cap: It maintains a cap of three permitted licenses for new Retailer Class CN or DN (Nightclub) licenses.
- Previous Caps Lifted: The previous cap on Multipurpose Facilities, Restaurants, and Taverns was lifted in prior rulemakings.
For information on these moratoria, including maps of the boundary lines, the official rulemaking text, and details on other active moratoria (such as those in the Glover Park and Adams Morgan areas), visit abca.dc.gov. Direct questions to ABCA.Legal@dc.gov.
License Cancellations
ABCA has issued Cease and Desist Orders to various licensees for failure to make required payments or renew their licenses by the September 30, 2025, deadline.
Cease and Desist Orders were issued on November 5, 2025, to the following license holders who did not meet their payment or renewal obligations:
- Failure to Remit Annual Payment: Class B Wholesaler, Manufacturer, and Retailer license holders.
- Failure to Renew License: Tavern, Nightclub, Bed & Breakfast, and Third-Party Delivery alcohol license holders.
A Cease and Desist Order is an immediate enforcement action. Affected venues are strictly prohibited from selling or serving alcohol. Furthermore, the ABCA has notified wholesalers that they are forbidden from delivering alcoholic beverage products to these establishments. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has also been notified to ensure compliance with the orders.
Licensees who received a Cease and Desist Order must act promptly. The ABC Board is scheduled to issue formal License Cancellation Orders on November 19, 2025.
If you received an order and wish to cancel your license rather than renew it, you must submit a License Cancellation Application to the ABCA prior to the cancellation date of November 19.
Direct questions to ABCA.AlcoholLicensing@dc.gov.
Compliance Filing Deadlines
Hotel, Restaurant, Brew Pub, Wine Pub, and various Retailer licensees have upcoming deadlines for required financial statements. These reports are mandatory, even if sales and expenses total zero. Failure to do so may result in fines and/or license suspension or cancellation.
Quarterly Statements (Hotels, Restaurants, Brew Pubs)
License holders for Hotels (CH/DH), Restaurants (CR/DR), and Brew Pubs are required to file quarterly statements detailing sales and expense activity. Statements must be submitted online.
- Q3 (July 1–September 30, 2025): Statements were due by October 30, 2025. Late filings may incur penalties.
- Q4 (October 1–December 31, 2025): Statements are due by Friday, January 30, 2026.
Annual Statements (Wine Pubs, Grocery/Retail Stores)
The following licensees must file an annual statement for the January 1–December 31, 2025, reporting period by Thursday, January 15, 2026.
- Wine Pubs
- Full-Service Grocery Stores (Class B)
- 25 Percent Grocery Stores (Class A)
- 25 Percent Retailers (Class B)
Statements must be placed on letterhead and emailed to ABCA.Compliance@dc.gov.
Semiannual Statements (Caterers, Third-Party Delivery)
Caterer and Third-Party Alcohol Delivery license holders must file online semiannual statements for the reporting period of July 1–December 31, 2025, by Friday, January 30, 2026.
Questions about compliance filings should be directed to ABCA.Compliance@dc.gov.
Training and Information Sessions
ABCA offers training and information sessions throughout the year. Offerings are virtual and free with advanced registration. Select recordings and presentations from our most recent training and information sessions are available online.
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Alcohol Licensing 101 - This course introduces new and prospective alcohol license holders—specifically on-premises and off-premises retailers and manufacturers— to ABCA and key basics. Registration is open for the next training to be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
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