‘Cocktails To-Go’ are sticking around while the state pushes to make it permanent

One thing many people have learned during the pandemic is that staying at home is a little easier with a cocktail in hand.

Thankfully, many bars and restaurants began offering their signature libations to-go, and now the trend is going to stick around in Tucson. This week, the Arizona House passed a bill to permanently allow cocktails to-go from restaurants, bars, and distilleries.

The purpose of the move, which is being led by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, is to help “increase consumer convenience and support hospitality businesses devastated by COVID-19.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated Arizona’s hospitality businesses, and it will take years for them to fully recover,” said Adam Smith, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Vice President of State Government Relations. “Cocktails to-go has already proven to be a critical part of their survival in many states across the U.S., and Arizona businesses deserve the same opportunity.”

So, what’s next for this new bill? It still needs to head to the Senate for consideration.

At the moment, more than 30 states — plus the District of Columbia — are allowing restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to-go.

“As an owner of both establishments with a Series 6 and Series 12 liquor licenses, each adversely affected by the pandemic, I would like to remind the legislature of how important ‘to-go’ has become to our industry,” said Grant Krueger, owner of Union Hospitality Group. “We have seen a massive increase in sales of both food and beverages to-go, both directly through our website and in third-party delivery apps.”

To learn more about the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, visit distilledspirits.org.