Senate Bill 126 has passed the legislature and will permanently allow restaurants to serve to-go cocktails if signed by the governor. During the height of the pandemic, the state waived the regulation that prohibited to-go cocktails to allow restaurants more opportunities to serve customers. This was a lifeline for many restaurants and was hugely popular with customers.
When regulations such as this one were originally waived, I (and many others) hoped these waivers would become permanent. If these regulations weren’t necessary during the pandemic, are they necessary during normal times? What is the harm in allowing restaurants to serve packaged, tamper-proof to-go cocktails? It doesn’t seem any different than buying a canned cocktail or the ingredients for a cocktail at a liquor store.
Luckily, the legislature is siding with restaurants and customers. If signed, this bill would allow restaurants more freedom to do business and please customers as they see fit.
