In her State of the State address Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to permanently legalize alcohol to go at bars and restaurants.
Alcohol to go was instituted by the Cuomo administration during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to help struggling bars and restaurants, which were closed down for on-premise dining and drinking. That executive order was rescinded in June, 2020, when bars and restaurants were permitted to fully reopen.
“To-go drinks were a critical revenue stream for New York’s bars and restaurants during the pandemic, helping many small businesses across the state pay their rents or mortgages” Hochul said. The proposal would not affect beer, which can already be sold to go. The state’s liquor store industry has been vociferous in its criticism to to-go sales.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].