Alabama establishments with a license to sell alcohol now have permission to provide to-go orders and curbside pickup service of certain alcoholic products to their customers.

In normal conditions, there is a rule that alcohol sales must occur inside of the building being used by the business with the liquor license. That provision has been lifted to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision comes from the Alabama Beverage Control (ABC) Board using its emergency powers in an effort to keep the businesses that buy liquor licenses afloat.

In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday issued official guidelines for the Birmingham area to close on-premises consumption areas in category-3 food service establishments, which includes almost all bars and breweries.

State officials hope establishments around the state follow those same guidelines voluntarily.

The decision from the ABC Board mandates that all alcohol be served in a sealed container. This means that all units of alcohol sold under the new rule must be a unit that has not been opened since it was manufactured.

The establishments the rule change will directly benefit are breweries and liquor stores.

To be clear, mixed-drinks will not be allowed to be sold curbside under the rule change. Some erroneous media reports led to restaurants selling mixed drinks curbside on Tuesday night. Alcohol service in that manner is not legal under the emergency rule.

In addition to being sealed, a curbside customer may only buy one 750 ml bottle of liquor, one 750ml bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer.

All employees handling the alcohol must be 21 years of age or older.

Those interested in reading the official decision can go here.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.