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Gov. Hochul to reinstate 'Drinks to-go'
New York restaurant owners got some welcome news during Gov. Hochul's State of the State address on Wednesday, as she said she is making the return of alcohol to-go sales a priority for her administration.
NEW YORK - New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced in her 2022 State of the State Address that she wants to allow bars and restaurants to once again be able to offer to-go alcohol sales, so struggling businesses can stay afloat as yet another COVID surge hits businesses.
To-go alcohol sales ended in June 2021, when New York lifted its State of Emergency, but restaurant owners and customers have been clamoring for the popular measure's return ever since.
"For others, hanging on by a thread, survival depends on whether they can create more space outdoors, a tough task during our New York winters. To help offset these costs, we will provide a tax credit for COVID-related purchases, like outdoor heaters and seating," Hochul said. "And we're also going to do something 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."
The proposal drew immediate praise from bars and restaurants in New York.
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"Anytime we can create revenues to keep these doors open it's a plus," said Dave Goodside, owner The Beach Cafe on the Upper East Side.
"Cheers to Governor Hochul for announcing her support to permanently bring back drinks to go at restaurants and bars," said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance. "The drinks to go policy provides critically important revenue streams to struggling restaurants and bars and is extraordinarily popular with the public, unsurprisingly. We commend Governor Hochul for her leadership, and we look forward to toasting her administration and the state legislature once this important policy is reinstated."
The New York State Liquor Store Association has opposed the idea. State lawmakers have to approve the idea for it to go into effect.
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Hochul promises to bring back to-go drinks in NY
In her 2022 State of the State Address, New York Governor Kathy Hochul promised to help support the state's struggling bars and restaurants with tax credits and a return of to-go alcohol sales.