Digital Hospitality

New Law, No Problem: The Alcohol Payment Shift Restaurants Can’t Ignore

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Wendy Turk, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Fintech, joins Digital Hospitality to break down California’s new alcohol payment law — and what every bar, restaurant, and distributor needs to know before it takes effect in 2026. From cutting through legal confusion to eliminating check fraud, Wendy explains how Fintech’s free solution makes compliance easy, efficient, and headache-free. Whether you operate a single location or dozens, this episode is your guide to navigating one of the biggest industry shifts in years.

Interview Takeaways:

  • The New Law Coming – Starting January 1, 2026, California will require all beer, wine, and spirits payments between wholesalers and retailers to be made electronically. And not just any electronic payment — they must be distributor-initiated.
  • Compliance Doesn’t Have to Be Hard – Fintech, the longtime leader in alcohol invoice automation, offers a free, fully compliant solution that makes it easy for restaurants and bars to stay on the right side of the law and save serious time and stress.
  • The End of the Checkbook Era – The days of writing checks at 6am deliveries, digging into petty cash, or chasing down invoices are over. With fraud on the rise and efficiency at a premium, moving to automated payments is a win for everyone.


    • Episode Links:
    • Wendy Turk On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-turk-a007449/
    • Fintech Online: https://fintech.com/
    • Fintech On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fintechbevalc/
    • Fintech On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-net/
    • Fintech On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fintech/
    • Fintech On X: https://x.com/FintechBevAlc
    • Assembly Bill 2991: https://www.abc.ca.gov/ab-2991-guidance-electronic-payments-between-retailers-and-wholesalers/


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      Digital HospitalityBy Shawn P. Walchef
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