10DLC registration for restaurants
Restaurants text for waitlists, order status, and promotions. All of it needs 10DLC, and one thing on the menu, alcohol, comes with extra carrier scrutiny.
Restaurant texting spans transactional (your table is ready, your order is up) and marketing (tonight's special, a loyalty deal). Both register under 10DLC. The wrinkle unique to restaurants is that promoting alcohol touches carrier content rules, so happy-hour blasts need a careful hand.
This applies to pizzerias, diners, cafes, quick-service restaurants, and bars, taverns, and wine bars. Bars and taverns should read the alcohol watch-out below closely, since drink promotions draw extra carrier review.
What restaurants text customers about
- Waitlist and 'your table is ready' alerts
- Online order confirmations and pickup-ready notices
- Reservations and reminders
- Specials, events, and loyalty offers (marketing)
Compliant sample messages
Illustrative templates. Each names the brand, matches the use case, and shows opt-out.
How restaurants collect opt-in
Collect consent at the point of sale, on the reservation or online-order flow, and on loyalty sign-ups. If you send promotions, the opt-in must mention offers, not just order updates.
Watch out
Promoting alcohol (happy hour, drink specials, 'free glass of wine') touches carrier alcohol content rules and can draw extra scrutiny or a rejection. Keep promotional messages general, or expect the alcohol angle to need review.
Common questions
Do restaurants need 10DLC to text customers?
Yes. Waitlist alerts, order updates, and promotions all require 10DLC registration when sent from a standard number.
Can I text drink specials and happy-hour deals?
Alcohol promotion is a restricted content area for carriers. It can draw extra scrutiny or a rejection. Keep promos general where possible, and be aware the alcohol angle may need review.
What use case fits a restaurant?
Often two: a transactional campaign for waitlist and order updates, and a separate marketing campaign for specials and loyalty offers, each with matching opt-in.
Can bars and taverns register for 10DLC?
Yes. Order, reservation, and event texts register normally. Promotions that center on alcohol touch carrier content rules for age-restricted products, so they can draw extra review. Keep promos general, or expect the alcohol content to need age-gating and scrutiny.