Beer and wine delivery is a go; curbside pot pickup passes 1st hurdle (For KTVA)

​Frosty beers delivered to your door? Yep, it's soon to be a reality. 

Emergency regulations to stabilize Alaska's economy have opened a new frontier for some businesses.

The governor has previously touted that many parts of the state government have eased restrictions for businesses struggling to cope with the economic burden of COVID-19. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Tuesday his plans to modify licensing regulations to allow businesses that sell beer, wine and liquor to deliver those products.

On Friday, the regulating agency — the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board — announced the regulations were in effect. License holders who qualify can apply by sending the required information by email to the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office. 

“The goal of these emergency regulations is to minimize the number of people going into a licensed premise,” said AMCO Director Glen Klinkhart in the release. “The board’s intent was to find options for these businesses that fully comply with all of the existing COVID-19 Health Mandates and the social distancing requirements.”

Factory-sealed beer, wine and cider is allowed with home delivery for certain license holders. It must be purchased in addition to food from the same business and cannot make up more than two-thirds of the order total. Third-party delivery companies may not be used to deliver alcohol.

Curbside pickup of factory-sealed alcoholic beverages is allowed for licensed package stores, breweries, brewpubs, distilleries, wineries, beverage dispensaries and restaurants.

Both options require the employee delivering the alcohol to have a valid alcohol server card and to check the buyer's ID. 

A similar measure is being weighed by the state's marijuana industry to allow online or phone orders to be picked up curbside at authorized stores during the pandemic.

While a decision on emergency rules was delayed Wednesday, the Marijuana Control Board passed the proposal with revisions by a 3-2 vote. It now heads to the governor's office for signature.

Klinkhart said marijuana businesses would still need to follow safety guidance from the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, if approved, he said it would give them another option to continue operating. 

"At the end you're giving them choices,"  Klinkhart said. "To me, that's a win."

Dave Goldman contributed reporting to this story.

Published on KTVA.com on April 17, 2020.