Uncap Permanent To-Go Alcohol In NYC, Restaurateurs Say

NEW YORK CITY — Restaurateurs are buzzing over the chances to-go alcohol will become permanent in New York City.

A coalition of powerful hospitality groups united Wednesday to support Gov. Kathy Hochul's recent proposal to make takeout cocktails and deliveries an ever-lasting feature of New York's bar scene. They did so after Hochul unveiled her proposed upcoming budget, which could help make to-go booze flow.

"To-go wine and cocktails provided a necessary financial stream during the pandemic and served as a lifeline to an industry economically devastated by the pandemic," hospitality leaders wrote in a release.

Hochul previously announced support for to-go cocktails during her State of the State address.

She unveiled details Tuesday on her proposed 2023 budget, but didn't provide an explicit proposal on to-go drinks.

Still, hospitality leaders claimed Hochul's budget supported the measure as part of its promised small business support.

"Permanently bringing back to go drinks provides an important revenue stream to many restaurants and bars facing unprecedented challenges, and the policy is extraordinarily popular with New Yorkers who could get their favorite cocktail delivered to their door with dinner," Andrew Rigie, who heads the powerful NYC Hospitality Alliance, said in a statement.