Government Shutdown Would Be Sobering For Liquor Sales

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/18/2025) The Michigan Liquor Control Commission put out a warning at Thursday’s meeting that a state shutdown would be sobering for the source of spirits throughout the state, which would trickle out as supplies dwindled.

Michigan Liquor Control Commission Business Manager Kerry Krone said spirits that were already owned by the businesses would still be able to be sold and served, but that any ordering and delivery of alcohol from the state from the three authorized distribution agents would be shut down on Oct. 1.

“We would turn off the ordering system,” Krone said.

Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association CEO Justin Winslow said the industry is still hopeful that something will get done before the fiscal year deadline drops the axe on spirits like the Prohibition era of the 1920s.

“We are already communicating with members to make purchases in advance in September for their spirit purchases to be prepared, just in case of such an outcome,” Winslow said.

He said in a “real pinch” there is an emergency purchase that can be done by the hospitality industry that would allow them to buy 120 liters per year from a nearby party store or grocery store that sells alcohol.

“Trust me, they would much rather keep demand going and consistent and finding supply in whatever legal manner they can,” he said.

He said many of the restaurants that serve alcohol place weekly orders, and if they failed to make an extra purchase, could see an end of liquor sales within that timeframe, but the more popular drinks could evaporate quicker.

“Tito’s vodka is an item that seems to go off the shelves pretty quickly, that could be in short supply rather quickly, if they’re used to ordering within a week and don’t have that opportunity,” he said.

There were also some events that could exacerbate how quickly some liquors would fly off the shelves.

“I think of these football Saturdays and the Detroit Tigers entering the playoffs here – knock on wood – those are going to be sort of large-scale exogenous events that will drive demand even more and speed that process up,” Winslow said.

He said while a short-term stockpile of liquor could put a pinch on businesses, an extra week would just be a matter of finding where to store it.

“Buying in advance an extra week is not like buying tomatoes in bulk. You’re going to have a much longer shelf life,” he said.

Beyond that, he said a shutdown would also impact sales themselves, because in Lansing, state employees wouldn’t have the cash to go out to spend on the restaurant or hotel itself.

Winslow said the MRLA was looking for funding for a workforce training program called ProStart to help staff restaurants that were still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association Vice President of Public Affairs Brett Visner said suppliers, breweries, wineries, and mixed-drink manufacturers did not have a figurative sword perched above their heads.

Visner said premixed canned cocktails were below the 13.5 percent alcohol by volume and, while containing spirits, not considered in the liquor category.

“We would go about business as we normally do,” he said.

However, the Liquor Control Commission does issue beer and wine licenses, adjudicates disputes and levies fines. Visner said the shutdown, while not impacting their bottom line, would still have an effect.

He said if anything were to impact beer and wine production that wholesalers typically have 30 days of inventory for products.

“Depends on the product,” he said.