The New York State Restaurant Association, along with restaurant owners in Albany, Buffalo, Long Island, New York City and Westchester County, asked the Legislature Wednesday to support a proposal to permanently end the measure that allows you to order alcoholic beverages to take away.
This measure provided an additional revenue stream for restaurants during the crisis and was under New York’s state of emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, once the emergency order ended, so did this policy.
“The time to act is now and the State Legislature must get involved. Governor Hochul’s proposal makes clear the Executive Chamber’s commitment to supporting the economic recovery of the restaurant industry. New Yorkers overwhelmingly support this policy and it is up to the legislature to support restaurants that have faced unprecedented economic hardship since the start of the pandemic,” said Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association.
“Small businesses, particularly restaurants, were directly negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Allowing alcohol to go helped them weather the storm. It’s critical that we continue to support these small businesses now by making it permanent. I’m happy.” to be a cosponsor of this legislation,” said Senator Neil Breslin.
A poll A 2021 New York State Restaurant Association survey found that 78% of New Yorkers support changing state law to permanently allow alcoholic beverages to go. The restaurants are urging the public to ask their elected officials to make Governor Hochul’s proposal permanent.
“The lingering effects of COVID-19 have been consistent, but so has the determination of many in the restaurant industry to persevere and hope for better days. On-the-go cocktails weren’t just a trend or fad that would cushion the constant blows our industry faced. It helps us stay open and our beloved employees keep working. For many, we are still in danger, but alcohol to go can give us all a better chance of survival,” said Harry Poole, chef and owner of Jackson’s in Commack.
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