Restaurant and bar owners hope Pennsylvania lawmakers legalize to-go cocktails

As businesses continue to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the popular takeaways for the restaurant and bar industry, was for customers to be able to purchase alcoholic drinks to-go.

“We’ve enjoyed a couple of margaritas from local Mexican restaurants,” said Ian Donovan, Ross Township.

Donovan is one of a handful of people Channel 11 spoke with Monday, who have been taking advantage of purchasing to-go alcoholic beverages.

The option, which was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many businesses were forced to shut down their dining rooms, has been a boost for some local establishments.

“That’s really all they got right now, is alcohol to go,” said Donovan.

As mitigation efforts are lifted and more restaurants and bars reopen their dining rooms, business owners are looking for extra income.

That income is needed to hire extra staff, with higher wages, because the staffing shortage throughout our communities, continues.

“The alcoholic cocktails add a whole new revenue stream,” said Art Barbus, business owner.

In Harrisburg, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would help Barbus and other business owners, to make to-go alcoholic drinks, permanent.

“I think that’s great. Once we know that it’s permanent, a lot of us can really start promoting it and really do some great things with that revenue stream; that we could now have under our umbrella,” said Barbus.

Gov. Tom Wolf signs bill allowing restaurants, bars to serve to-go cocktails Gov. Tom Wolf signs bill allowing restaurants, bars to serve to-go cocktails

Cox Media Group