Ian Bacheikov and Alicia Bhambhani wrote an article for FSR offering guidance for restaurants and members of the hospitality industry facing an oversupply of alcohol as a result of the shutdown imposed to avoid the further spread of COVID-19.
"With all of the emergency declarations being imposed around the country cancelling events and implementing social distancing at a regulatory level, many retailers may be finding themselves with an overstock of alcohol inventory, purchased in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day or other events in their neighborhoods, that will now be difficult to store and/or sell. Generally, retailers cannot return alcoholic beverages, and even in the few circumstances where retailers may be allowed to make returns, distributors are not actually required to accept such returns. Fortunately, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has taken action and announced that, although returns related to overstock or slow-moving product are generally prohibited, due to the current emergency and the widespread cancellation of events, such returns will not be prohibited for the time being."