Free beer with your COVID-19 shot is aim of Illinois lawmakers

There is no such thing as free beer in Illinois, which is why state lawmakers are considering allowing one mug or another alcoholic beverage as a reward for getting a COVID-19 shot. State lawmakers have no plans to pick up the tab.

Illinois state lawmakers are trying to set up a free shot and a beer for those who get a COVID-19 immunization.

One per customer, though. And someone else is paying.

House Bill 4078 proposes a single free alcoholic drink as part of a promotion to get people vaccinated against COVID 19. Lawmakers want to leverage this incentive, but need to use a legislative vehicle to make it happen – currently, Illinois bars are not allowed to use free drinks as a promotion. There is no provision within the bill to compensate bar owners for providing the “free beer” program.

The bill: “Provides that a retail licensee may provide a single drink of alcoholic liquor at no charge to a customer as part of a publicly advertised promotion to encourage participation in any COVID-19 vaccination program if the customer provides proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, and that the provision is inoperative on and after 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act.”

The bill was introduced May 11 by state Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside