# Delaware SB 243: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOL. Delaware SB 243, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOL., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Daniel Cruce (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-21 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB243-153 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Delaware SB 243 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOL. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-26 - Last action: 2026-05-21, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 10 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (57 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 17 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Craft alcohol businesses gain sales options: benefit, medium. Delaware farm wineries, microbreweries, and craft distilleries can buy qualifying products from licensed Delaware importers or package stores. Those products must come from eligible licensed producers or manufacturers the Commissioner finds qualify under those producer-license rules. Customers must… - Kids can stay later at cabarets: benefit, low. Minors can enter or remain at cabarets without a parent until 11:00 p.m. official Eastern time, instead of 9:00 p.m. After 11:00 p.m., a parent or legal guardian must accompany them. - Nonprofit gatherings gain alcohol donation options: benefit, low. Qualifying gatherings include events hosted by recognized charitable nonprofits or similar public-good groups that serve food or drinks or charge entry. Gathering license holders can buy alcohol from package stores or importers. Package stores, Delaware manufacturers, and importers can donate alcoh… - Licensed alcohol sellers can offer curbside: benefit, low. Businesses with qualifying off-premises alcohol licenses can offer curbside sales. A certified responsible alcohol server must complete and deliver each sale. Existing bans on sales to people under 21 or intoxicated people still apply. - Habitual-drinking sales bans and penalties end: benefit, low. The law ends the statutory process for banning alcohol sales to people identified as habitually drinking to excess. The specified people and local representatives can no longer start that process. It also removes the related offense for license holders who knowingly sold alcohol after receiving Com… - Consumers get clearer alcohol information: benefit, low. Containers of infused drinks and batched cocktails must list every ingredient and the date made. Licensees must also follow the Commissioner's preparation and labeling rules. The Commissioner must publish license counts, licensee names and addresses, alcohol sales, and licenses granted or cancelled… - Alcohol wholesalers gain trade flexibility: benefit, low. Importers can sell beer in sixtel containers to licensed alcohol resellers, alongside half-barrel and quarter-barrel containers. To the extent federal law permits, the Commissioner cannot regulate credit deals between licensed wholesalers and package stores. - New takeaway alcohol licenses favor stores: cost, medium. New applications for this off-premises alcohol license are limited to package-store owners, lessees, or managers recognized by the Commissioner. People in charge of restaurants, clubs, and taprooms cannot apply for off-premises licenses for those premises. Restaurant and club licenses issued before… - Package stores face ownership limits: cost, medium. The Commissioner must refuse a package-store license when substantial evidence supports interests in 2 or more licenses by the applicant and specified associates. A spouse's interests and those of a child under 21 count toward the limit. Bona fide lenders, lending institutions, secured parties, lie… - Retail alcohol tastings limited to stores: cost, low. Only package-store license holders can get these spirits, wine, and beer tasting licenses. Tastings must happen in a separate area designated by the Commissioner where alcohol is not sold. Stores cannot charge customers for tastings. - Neighbors face stricter license hearing requirements: cost, low. Under this hearing trigger, at least 10 qualifying residents or property owners must protest within 30 days after an alcohol-license application. At least 5 protesters must preregister to testify. Protesters must live or own property within 1 mile of the premises, including in an incorporated area… - Alcohol suppliers face fees and reporting: cost, low. Supplier licenses cost $100 every two years for up to 200 cases imported yearly, or $1,000 for more than 200. Alcohol imports must go directly to a licensed Delaware warehouse operated, owned, or leased by a licensed Delaware importer. The alcohol must be unloaded and physically stored there. Cover… - Arts businesses gain limited alcohol permission: mixed, medium. Licensed businesses charging for painting, pottery, candle-making, or similar creative experiences can get a bottle-club license. The license allows alcohol consumption every day, including holidays, but not from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. Owners or customers must provide enough food; packaged snacks… - Event venues gain licenses with fees: mixed, medium. Qualified applicants can get one special-event license to sell and serve alcohol for drinking at events on their licensed premises. The Delaware site must be owned or leased, cover no more than 3 acres, and meet zoning, health, and fire rules. Its secured alcohol area needs a fence or wall at least… - Venue alcohol licenses gain new standards: mixed, medium. Concert halls qualify with capacity for 500 patrons and 200 live music events per two-year license period, down from 600 and 250. Restaurants seeking alcohol privileges must get at least 60% of gross receipts from food and serve full meals for payment. They need table seating for at least 12 people… - Event sellers face alcohol sourcing limits: mixed, low. Special-event licensees must buy all alcohol sold or served at events from licensed importers. After an event, an importer can buy back unopened bottles that can be resold. Importers must keep the purchase records the Commissioner requires. Licensees can hire concessionaires, but their agreements c… - Alcohol license fees fund overservice investigations: mixed, low. Covered alcohol licensees pay an extra $100 each year into the Overservice Investigation Fund. The fund pays investigator overtime or the hiring and equipping of additional agents. Agents investigate and prosecute licensees that serve intoxicated people. The law includes alternative phase-in schedu… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Alonna Berry (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: William Bush (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: William J. Carson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Krista Griffith (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Debra Heffernan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lyndon D. Yearick (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-07 | House | Passed (3/5 required) | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-03-19 | Senate | Passed (3/5 required) | pass | 20 | 0 | | ## Actions (9) - 2026-05-21: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-05-07: Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT (House) - 2026-04-14: Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 10 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-03-24: Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House (House) - 2026-03-19: Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Amendment SA 1 to SB 243 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Reported Out of Committee (Elections & Government Affairs) in Senate with 5 Favorable (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Amendment SA 1 to SB 243 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Introduced and Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142872&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related bills - HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house) - HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed) - SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed) - SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed) - HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed) - HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed) ## Sources - [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142872&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related - [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153) - [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153) - [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153) - [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153) - [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153) - [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153) - [Delaware bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware/bills) - [Delaware state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB243-153 (as of 2026-10-19).