Illinois Liquor Control Commission publishes informative FAQ for bars and breweries about Illinois’s new growler & crowler law.
The good people over at the Illinois Liquor Control Commission – the entity responsible for Illinois’s liquor law enforcement and regulation – have done bars from Chicago to Effingham a favor by publishing a frequently asked questions flyer regarding Illinois’s new growler & crowler law. Illinois bars and restaurants and even Illinois liquor attorneys can rest easy with the knowledge that these are published interpretations of the new law.
Lots of good stuff here, from pre-filling growlers and crowlers in Illinois to the labeling requirements. You can read more about Illinois’s new growler and crowler law here. Here’s the q&A from the FAQ:
Frequently Asked Questions:
I am a class 1 brewer, can I pre-fill growlers?
Yes. You may fill growlers at any time; however, pre-filled growlers are considered to be “bottles” by the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). As such, these growlers would be subject to the federal labeling requirements.
Is it required for me to clean a growler that is brought in by the patron?
Yes. Before filling the growler or crowler or refilling the growler, the on-premises retail licensee or licensee’s employee shall clean and sanitize the growler or crowler.
I’m an on-premises consumption retailer, can I pre-fill growlers?
No. The language of this law requires you to only fill at the time of sale.
Can I sell a growler that has not been sealed?
No. This law requires that the growler be sealed with a one-time use, tamper-proof seal. A customer that takes a growler without this type of seal and transports it in a vehicle,could be subject to a charge of illegal transportation of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
I’m an on-premises retailer, do I have to label the growler?
Yes. The law requires that you place a label or tag which contains: 1) the brand name of the product contained therein; 2) the name of the brewer or bottler; 3) the type of product, such as beer, ale, lager, bock, stout; 4) the net contents; 5) the name and address of the licensee that cleaned, sanitized, labeled, and filler or refilled the growler; and 6) the date the growler was filled or refilled.
You can download the FAQ sheet from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission on Illinois’s new growler and crowler law here.
