Cheers!: Gov. Hochul says to-go drinks are returning to NY bars, restaurants

Some people tell News 12 that while they are comfortable eating indoors, the proposed reinstatement of to-go drinks with takeout orders is something they hope will help local businesses.

News 12 Staff

Jan 6, 2022, 3:47 AM

Updated 988 days ago

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Gov. Kathy Hochul says to-go drinks for bars and restaurants are coming back.
The governor announced Wednesday in her State of the State address that she will allow alcoholic drinks to be sold outside of the confines of bars and restaurants.
"To once again allow the sale of to-go drinks--a critical revenue during the lean times last year," Hochul says.
Co-owner and chef at 317 Main in Farmingdale, Eric LeVine, says he was disappointed when restaurants lost the ability to sell alcohol drinks to go with food orders.
"You're talking about a significant increase in sale and profitability," LeVine says.
He says fewer people are dining in due to the holidays and concerns over the Omicron variant, so this is a chance to help the business recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic.
"Where we lose in the dining room, we gain in the takeout so that'll be a significant bump for us," LeVine says.
Some people tell News 12 that while they are comfortable eating indoors, the proposed reinstatement of to-go drinks with takeout orders is something they hope will help local businesses.
News 12 reached out to Hochul's office to ask when the sale of to-go drinks will be officially reinstated but have not heard back yet.