No more being forced to play bartender at home: On Monday afternoon, Governor Baker passed a law allowing Massachusetts bars and restaurants to sell take-away cocktails.
Bill S.2812, also known as “An Act to Expand Take-Out / Delivery Options in Response to COVID-19”, allows eligible restaurants and bars with liquor licenses to sell mixed drinks with the purchase of food, and will be valid until the state of the emergency elevators. Drinks must be packed in sealed containers, and customers can purchase up to two drinks, or 64 ounces in total. If the beverage is being transported by car, the cocktails should be placed in the trunk or in a non-passenger area of the vehicle.
“With the governor’s signature, Massachusetts is now joining 30 other states and DC to allow cocktails to be held to support hospitality companies,” said Jay Hibbard, vice president of state government relations for the Council of Distilled Spirits. “Local businesses have been badly affected by COVID-19, and cocktails to go provide an inexpensive lifeline as they work to recover. We applaud Governor Baker for signing cocktails to sign into law and for supporting Massachusetts businesses. “
The bill passed unanimously on June 3, but then sat in the Senate for weeks until it landed on the governor’s desk on July 16. Now that it is signed, the bill takes effect immediately.
State Senator Diana DiZoglio tweeted her approval:
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere because @MassGovernor just signed my cocktails to bill LAW. Thanks for supporting our local restaurants! https://t.co/YUwyANsVdl
– Diana DiZoglio (@DianaDiZoglio) July 20, 2020
Josh Weinstein, owner of The Quiet Few in East Boston and a leading proponent of the bill, told Boston.com on Monday that he was incredibly excited about the news.
“I am really excited about what has finally arrived and really excited, not only for the additional revenue generated that will help save the industry, but also for the opportunity for guests and bartenders to feel complete and normal again,” he said.
Weinstein said The Quiet Few will have frozen margaritas and frozen negronis ready to sell starting at 4 p.m. M. Friday, and that will definitely be “putting pressure on our classics: negronis, boulevardier and Manhattans”.
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