To-Go Alcohol Ends With COVID Emergency In NY

NEW YORK CITY — Talk about a sobering "Summer of New York City."

To-go alcohol will end after Thursday when New York's coronavirus emergency order is lifted, the NYS Liquor Authority tweeted.

"Licensees please be advised that with the ending of our state of emergency and the return to pre-pandemic guidelines, the temporary pandemic-related privileges for to-go and delivery of alcoholic beverages will end after June 24," the tweet states.

Licensees please be advised that with the ending of our state of emergency and the return to pre-pandemic guidelines, the temporary pandemic-related privileges for to-go and delivery of alcoholic beverages will end after June 24. pic.twitter.com/bkjnbbvBw4
— NYS Liquor Authority (@NY_SLA) June 23, 2021

To-go and delivery alcoholic beverage proved a win-win for New Yorkers and hard-hit bars and restaurants alike during the darkest days of the pandemic.

Establishments happily served up booze in new ways under New York's state of emergency.

But Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announcement Wednesday that he'll lift the emergency threatens to dry up the supply — as did state lawmakers' failure to act on a push to keep popular pandemic-era alcohol rules.

"We know the sudden elimination of alcohol to-go will hurt many restaurants/bars and it will be a disappointment for customers who have come to love it," the NYC Hospitality Alliance tweeted. "We will continue to advocate for the return of this popular + important policy next legislative session."

We know the sudden elimination of alcohol to-go will hurt many restaurants/bars and it will be a disappointment for customers who have come to love it. We will continue to advocate for the return of this popular + important policy next legislative session. https://t.co/YRi6xKF2q7 https://t.co/t52czouxsq
— NYC Hospitality Alliance (@theNYCalliance) June 23, 2021

The alliance, in a further statement online, placed blame on a "massive opposition campaign by New York's package and liquor store associations and elected officials."

As it stands, on-premises liquor-licensed bars and restaurants must stop offering to-go alcohol after Thursday.