Cocktails-To-Go Could Join Wine And Beer For Restaurant Take-Out

ATLANTA, GA — You may soon be able to pick up a side order of cocktails with your take-out dinner if a bill passed Monday in the Georgia House is signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.

Senate Bill 236 allows mixed drinks to accompany take-out food orders. This sets cocktails on equal footing with beer and wine, already allowed for take-out. It also promises to be a welcome pick-me-up for the restaurant industry, which has been particularly hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“By allowing cocktails to-go, restaurants that are still struggling to keep their doors open now have another opportunity to offer guests a full-service dining experience in their own homes,” said Georgia Restaurant Association Karen Bremer in a statement issued Monday thanking the bill’s sponsors.

As long as a locality doesn’t opt out, Georgians picking up take-out food will be able to receive mixed drinks with these limitations:

• Whoever picks up the order must be of legal age.
• The mixed drinks must be in tamper-proof, sealed containers.
• The drink may contain no more than 3 ounces of distilled spirits.
• No more than two mixed drinks may be included per adult entrée order.

The bill had already passed in the Georgia Senate, and it passed 120-48 Monday in the House. All it needs now is Gov. Brian Kemp's signature.

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