Bill Would Let Bars Give Vaccinated People A Free Drink

ILLINOIS — A new bill in the Illinois House would encourage bars and restaurants to exchange one shot for another.

The "Shot and a Beer" bill would allow places with liquor licenses to provide customers with a free drink of the establishment's choice if they can show proof they've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

State Rep. Mike Zalewski of Riverside introduced House Bill 4078 on Tuesday, which would only be effective for six months after it's passed.

The bill comes at a time when health officials say demand for vaccines has fallen nationwide. In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced plans to "ramp down" the amount of COVID-19 vaccine doses the state orders from the government. Instead of mass vaccination centers, mobile clinics and small initiatives at commercial buildings will be the easiest way to access a vaccine.

This would be the second time the Liquor Control Act of 1934 was amended due to the pandemic. Last year, the state passed a measure that allowed bars and restaurants to sell mixed drinks to-go as places closed for takeout options only.

"We now have vaccine available to anyone who wants a shot, whenever they want one," Pritzker said at a press conference Tuesday. "That's why we can now broaden the number and type of locations where people can get vaccinated."

Illinois has administered over 10 million shots as of Wednesday. About 36 percent of the state's population is fully vaccinated, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Officials expect that number to go up as more vaccines are approved for children ages 12 and up.

The bill was introduced Tuesday and sent to the House Rules Committee, awaiting further action.