Restaurants & Bars
NYC Wants Another Round Of To-Go Alcohol
"I think it's a mistake to cut it off so soon," Mayor Bill de Blasio said amid a swirl of discontent over the sudden end of to-go beverages.
NEW YORK CITY — New York City got cut off too soon from to-go alcohol, a growing number of city leaders and restaurateurs say.
Thirsty city dwellers woke up Friday in a drier Big Apple after the end of New York's state coronavirus emergency inadvertently tanked carryout booze.
At least one state lawmaker is brewing up a bill to give New Yorkers another round of to-go booze.
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"Not only were the alcohol-to-go provisions highly popular, with 78% of New Yorkers in support of a permanent extension, but the ability to serve patrons ‘alcohol-to-go’ served as an important financial lifeline for primarily small, locally-owned restaurants struggling with the disproportionate impact the hospitality sector has continued to experience throughout the pandemic," said Patricia Fahy, an Assembly Member from Albany, in a statement.
Fahy backed a measure to extend to-go alcohol, but her fellow lawmakers failed to act on it during the last legislative session.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Restaurant groups such as the NYC Hospitality Alliance are pushing lawmakers to take action and restore what was a coronavirus pandemic lifeline for hard-hit establishment and their workers, not to mention their patrons.
"Already hearing from many frustrated owners about losing this lifeline," tweeted State Sen. Andrew Gourdanes. "This is such a no-brainer and there’s just no good reason not to continue with cocktails-to-go, and it’s massively popular, to boot."
Already hearing from many frustrated owners about losing this lifeline. This is such a no-brainer and there’s just no good reason not to continue with cocktails-to-go, and it’s massively popular, to boot. https://t.co/asZqb0raiu
— Andrew Gounardes (@agounardes) June 24, 2021
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has no control over the state decision, also backed any measure to bring back to-go alcohol.
"I think it's a mistake to cut it off so soon," he told WNYC's Brian Lehrer on Friday.
De Blasio said the state should continue it at least for this year to give bars and restaurants "more of a helping hand."
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