The State's alcoholic beverage laws allow licensed businesses to remain open from 8am to 5am the following morning every day of the year except on election days. However the law also allows local governing bodies to limit hours of operation by ordinance. All of Alaska's larger cities and many of its smaller communities have adopted ordinances restricting operating hours. For the legal hours in a specific community contact us.
The law requires that at closing time no-one be present on the licensed premises except employees preparing for the next days business. It does not address when the last drink can be served. That is a determination that must be made by the individual licensee.
Licensed businesses must be closed on days when there is an election for a candidate for public office until after the polls close (normally 8pm). Local governing bodies may adopt ordinances exempting licensed businesses within their jurisdiction from this requirement.
Businesses that the board identifies a "bona fide" restaurants may allow customers to enter and remain on their licensed premises for consumption of food and non-alcoholic beverages only. All other licensed businesses may not be open during "closed" hours.
Persons under the age of 21 may not enter or remain on licensed premises unless accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or spouse over the age of 21 years. Not withstanding this rule licensees may exclude underage persons from licensed premises at any time.
Yes, there are four exceptions:
- Persons 18, 19 and 20 years of age may work on the licensed premises of hotels and restaurants but may not sell serve or deliver alcoholic beverages.
- Persons 16 and 17 years of age may be employed on the licensed premises of businesses the board has designated as "bona fide" restaurants with the written consent of their parent or legal guardian and an exemption certificate from the department of labor, but may not sell serve or deliver alcoholic beverages.
- Persons 16 years of age and above may enter licensed premises of businesses the board has designated as bona fide restaurants for the purpose of dining only.
- Persons under the age of 16 may enter licensed premises of businesses the board has designated as "bona fide" restaurants for the purpose of dining only accompanied by a person over the age of 21 years with the consent of the underage persons parent.
Yes, but the unconsumed alcoholic beverages must be disposed of in waste water or a waste container immediately.
Yes, if the underage persons are not on licensed premises and the alcoholic beverages are provided by their parents, legal guardians or spouse over the age of 21 years.
Yes, non-alcoholic beer and wine are not alcoholic beverages. Legally non-alcoholic beer and wine are no different than coffee, tea or soft drinks.
Although there are several situations when it may be appropriate to ask to see identification (such as when a customer is paying a bill by check), the only time that the alcoholic beverage laws require that ID be checked is when the licensee or the licensee's agent or employee is not sure that the customer is 21 years of age or older. In that situation the licensee may not serve that person or allow the person to remain on the licensed premises unless valid identification is produced.
A passport issued by the United States or Foreign Government, an ID card issued by a United States Government agency , a drivers license issued by any of the 50 states or an identification card issued by the same state agency that issues drivers licenses. All "valid" identification must contain a photograph of the bearer and a statement of the bearer's age or date of birth.
A fine of not more than $5000.00 and imprisonment for up to 1 year additionally the law requires that the underage persons drivers license be revoked.
Beverage dispensary, restaurant or eating place, club, pub, recreational site, common carrier dispensary and package store.
- The beverage dispensary license allows the holder to sell all types of alcoholic beverages for consumption
on the licensed premises only.
- The restaurant or eating place license allows the
owner of a bona fide restaurant to sell beer and wine for consumption on the licensed
premises only.
- The club license allows a private social, fraternal or patriotic
organization to sell alcoholic beverages to its members for consumption on
the licensed premises only.
- A pub license allows the holder to sell beer and wine
at a premises located on the campus of a college or university for consumption on
the licensed premises only.
- A recreational site license allows the sale of beer
and wine at a recreational site during and one hour before and after a recreational
event for consumption on designated areas of the site only.
- A common carrier license allows the sale of alcoholic beverages aboard a vehicle, boat, aircraft or railroad
buffet car licensed for passenger travel.
- A package store license allows the holder to sell any kind of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the licensed premises.
Licenses are issued based on population quota. Restaurant
or eating place licenses are issued on the formula of one license for each 1500
of population within a political subdivision of the state. All other licenses are
issued on a formula of one license for each 3000 of population. Generally speaking
except for restaurant or eating place licenses the quota for most licenses has been
exhausted and no new licenses can be issued. Most licenses however are transferable.
If you want to open your own business, you need to find someone that would be willing
to transfer their license to you.
Alcoholic beverage laws differ from state to state. In Alaska
licensees and their agents and employees must take an alcohol server training course within 30 days of employment. The course must be reviewed and approved by the ABC Board. The board will not approve a course unless it covers 16 specific areas of Alaska law. Courses approved in other states may have the same title but are not the same as the course taught in Alaska.
No, you may purchase the alcoholic beverages that you intend to resell from licensed package stores as well as licensed wholesalers.
Alcoholic beverages can be included as a part of a meal package as long as the price of the meal package is at least the normal price of the alcoholic beverage.
The alcoholic beverage laws do not prohibit licensees
or their agents or employees from drinking. However it is illegal for a drunken
person to remain on licensed premises. So if a bartender became drunk the bartender
could face criminal charges and the liquor license could be in jeopardy.
Yes, a person may take their unfinished bottle of wine ordered with a meal home, but it must be either recorked, sealed with tamper resistant tape or placed in a tamper proof “wine doggie bag” container by the licensee, agent or employee of the licensed establishment. If it is resealed as listed above, it is not considered an open container.
Yes. Under a new law enacted in 1999 a licensee
may allow a patron to bring wine into a restaurant to be consumed with a meal. The licensee may charge a corkage fee to open and pour the wine.
Specials must run for the entire calendar week
and be available at all time that the business is open. You may not sell alcoholic beverages for less than you paid for them. Free or complimentary drinks are illegal.
