At a press conference on Friday afternoon, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced that bars and restaurants in New Orleans are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages on the go, beginning at 6 a.m. on July 25.
The mayor’s order effectively closes licensed bar businesses in New Orleans. Earlier this month, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards closed bars in the state for local consumption, but allowed them to remain open for sidewalk service. That will end in New Orleans: Bars can no longer offer takeout food either, as the mayor clarified after a question. “Our bar community will suffer as a result of this decision, unfortunately, but it is a decision that must be made for our children to return to the classroom safely,” Cantrell said.
The new restriction also prohibits taking alcohol from restaurants and self-service establishments; The sale has been a lifesaver for many restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mayor referenced 20 bars in New Orleans that have special state permits, “conditional restaurant” permits, allowing them to operate as restaurants. Those 20 bars, which include Cooter Brown’s, Bouligny Tavern and Cure, may remain open.
The measure appears to be fueled by meetings on Bourbon Street, which the mayor said are “triggered” by the sale of alcohol. Mayor Cantrell also referred to the “visual” of crowds in the French Quarter, saying it “hurts us” and encourages other gatherings across the city.
In June, the Mayor and Director of the City’s Health Department, Dr. Jennifer Avegno, said that if the city maintains an average growth rate of 50 cases per day, the restrictions could be reintroduced. Today, Dr. Avegno said, New Orleans’ daily average for the past three weeks has exceeded 50. He also said that while New Orleans is better than some surrounding parishes, its increase in cases is affecting us “to us and our hospital capacity. ”
Mayor Cantrell did not mention an end date for the take-away alcohol sales ban, saying that new restrictions would only remain in place “until we move to a position of better health in the city of New Orleans.”
Eater is tracking the impact of the new coronavirus on the city’s restaurant industry. Have a story to share? Reach [email protected].
