Legislature closing in on agreement over to-go cocktails
Photo | Grant Welker
Welly's Restaurant on Main Street in Marlborough.
House and Senate lawmakers agreed to revised to-go cocktail legislation Thursday that would allow restaurants to sell mixed drinks with take-out food purchases.
The bill (H 4856) eliminates a two-drink per entree limit initially approved by the Senate, and instead caps the amount of alcohol a person can by at 64 fluid ounces. The House also extended the timeline for to-go cocktails through Feb. 28, 2021 or until the state of emergency is lifted, whichever is later.
Some bar and restaurant owners have applauded the Legislature's move to consider such legislation, saying it is a way to attract customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many other states have allowed to-go cocktails during the pandemic, while take-out alcohol in Massachusetts has been restricted to beer and wine.
By and large, businesses like restaurants have suffered during the pandemic, with many shutting down for good. Eateries were allowed to resume outdoor dining in early June after being closed for roughly three months, and began accepting patrons indoors several weeks later.
The House passed a larger restaurant relief bill in early June that included provisions for takeout mixed drinks, but the Senate scaled it back in a version that passed (S 2812)last week to focus just on to-go cocktails.
The Senate agreed to the House's changes Thursday afternoon, and just final votes are needed to send the bill to Gov. Charlie Baker for his signature.
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