California AB 2991: New EFT Requirements for Alcohol Payments — What Operators Need to Know

Beginning January 1, 2026, a new California law (AB 2991) will change how alcohol payments are handled between licensed retailers (restaurants, bars, hotels) and wholesalers. Under this law, all alcohol transactions must be completed via electronic funds transfer (EFT), effectively ending the use of checks, cash, or money orders for these purchases.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) clarified that EFT payments must be initiated by the wholesaler and completed within 30 days of the delivery date, which should ideally be the invoice date. Payments made beyond that window will be treated as delinquent and could create compliance or licensing issues. Each party will also bear its own processing fees.

How EisnerAmper is Helping Clients Stay Ahead

At EisnerAmper, our Hospitality Accounting and AP Automation teams are already preparing clients for this change, staying well ahead of the 2026 deadline. We’ve confirmed that all alcohol vendors are set up through ACH/EFT and the current AP automation software is compliant.  We will continue to assist our clients with tightening invoice timing and payment controls across the board.

Here’s How We’re Supporting Clients Proactively:

• Payment: Alcohol invoices are being tracked from the invoice date (assumed delivery date) which starts at the 30-day period.
• Vendor setup: All current and future beer, wine, and liquor vendors will be configured for EFT/ACH, not checks or credit cards. For future vendors, we may require assistance with new vendor details.
• Training: Impressing on your teams that prompt invoice uploads and approvals are critical to stay in compliance.

By transitioning early, operators will minimize compliance risk, maintain supplier relationships, and prevent payment disruptions once AB 2991 is fully enforced statewide.

Compliance Checklist for Restaurant Operators & Account Payable Teams

✔  Vendor Setup: Confirm all alcohol wholesalers are configured for EFT/ACH in your AP automation system.

✔  Invoice Workflow: Verify that approval and payment occur within 30 days of the invoice/delivery date.

✔  Team Training: Remind GMs, beverage directors, and managers to upload invoices promptly for tracking and documentation.

Next Steps

Our Restaurant & Hospitality Advisory team Advisory team will continue monitoring AB 2991 and share practical updates as implementation approaches. If you’d like help reviewing your current vendor setup or payment workflows, our team can walk you through an EFT readiness review to determine whether your systems and processes are fully aligned.

Together, we’ll help you prepare your operation before January 2026 arrives.