Breweries, wineries, and distilleries in California will get to reopen for the first time in over eight months.
On Thursday, March 11, the California Department of Public Health announced outdoor breweries can operate without having to serve food.
Starting Saturday, March 13, Californians will be able to have drinks at their local brewery, but there are strict health and safety guidelines for customers who want to enjoy drinks indoors.
For counties in the less restrictive orange tier, businesses can operate at 25% capacity with up to 100 people.
Counties that are still in the purple and red tiers must continue operating outdoors only.
Businesses in orange tier counties must make sure parties don't stay past the 90-minute time limit. They are also required to stop serving by 8:00 P.M., reports NBC7.
For breweries, wineries, and distilleries that serve food, not much will change. They will continue to operate as a restaurant under their respective county's tier restrictions.
Previously, public health officials considered bars to be one of the highest-risk businesses during the pandemic. They assumed alcohol consumption would impair judgment and people would have trouble remembering to wear masks or keep a safe distance from other parties.
Now that California is reaching its vaccination goals, they are strategizing how to safely reopen the economy.
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