State allowing breweries, wineries to re-open, with certain restrictions
Wineries and breweries located in counties under the "purple" or "red" tiers may re-open under certain circumstances.
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
State health officials on Thursday announced they would ease restrictions on distilleries, wineries and breweries, allowing them to re-open as soon as this weekend with some modifications.
The easing of restrictions comes on the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the novel coronavirus COVID-19 to be a global health pandemic, a move that triggered a wave of restrictions on residents and businesses in California and throughout much of the United States over the last 12 months.
Under the state’s previous guidance, most in-person drinking establishments were not allowed to open for business under the “purple” and “red” restriction tiers if they did not also serve meals. This restriction applied whether the establishment was able to serve customers outdoors or not.
Starting March 13, the state is easing these restrictions, allowing breweries, wineries and distilleries to serve customers with certain modifications:
These businesses must require customers to make a reservation prior to their visit;
Customers can only be served up to 90 minutes per visit;
These businesses must close by 8 p.m. each day.
The new rules do not apply to breweries, wineries or distilleries that serve meals; those businesses must follow state guidelines set for restaurants, which are typically more relaxed. (Restaurants in Solano County have been allowed to serve a limited number of customers indoors since the county revered to the “red” restriction tier on Wednesday.)
Bars that do not serve meals must remain closed in the “red” and “purple” tiers, state health officials said.
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