New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her plans to reinstate the state’s ‘Drinks-to-Go’ initiative. The popular plan was established in 2021 to temporarily allow bars and restaurants to sell alcoholic drinks for takeout during the height of the pandemic. It was extended through May, 2021, but abruptly shut down in June.
“So many small businesses are pushed to the brink,” Gov. Hochul said during her first State of the State address today, “Thousands of bars and restaurants, the soul of our neighborhoods have had to close.”
She announced two main initiatives to ease the financial burden of independent bar and restaurant operators. New York will be providing a tax credit for COVID-related purchases, including outdoor heaters, and will be re-instating the popular ‘Drinks-to-Go’ initiative.
“We’re also going to do something our bars and restaurants have been asking for, to once again allow the sale of to-go drinks, a critical revenue stream during the lean times last year. So, cheers New York.”
Details are murky and it’s unclear whether this will be a permanent move, or another temporary allowance. To become permanent, the New York State Legislature has to pass the proposed bills.
The ‘Drinks-to-Go’ initiative was introduced by former governor Andrew Cuomo in March, 2020. It was an effective way for New York bars and restaurants to earn income while their main serving areas remained closed, and proved popular with New Yorkers. According to a survey conducted by the New York State Restaurant Association, almost 80% of surveyed New Yorkers were in favor of making the initiative permanent. The New York Times called it ‘financial lifeline’ during the pandemic, and while we don’t know when it will return, New Yorkers are excited to welcome to-go cocktails back.
Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance released a statement, “The drinks to go policy provides critically important revenue streams to struggling restaurants and bars and is extraordinarily popular with the public, unsurprisingly.”
New York was the first state to embrace cocktails to go in 2020. Since then, at least 15 states and the District of Columbia have made the to-go cocktail permanent.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
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