North Carolinians will soon be able to take their cocktails to go
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Lawmakers in Raleigh have signed off on a bill allowing for the sale of to-go and delivery cocktails.
Why it matters: The measure is part of a broader alcohol bill that also will allow liquor stores to open on certain holidays like New Year's Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day
- It would not, however, allow local ABC boards to open their stores on Sundays, which was part of an earlier version of the bill that passed the Senate, WUNC reported.
Flashback: During the pandemic, bars and restaurants were temporarily allowed to sell their cocktails to-go.
- The pandemic-era exception was meant to help offset the loss of sales that restaurants and bars were experiencing due to a range of limitations at the time, from capacity limits to a 9pm last call for alcohol sales.
- The measure ended when the emergency order was lifted.
Reality check: That allowance was not a lifesaver some hoped it would be for restaurants/bars in North Carolina, according to interviews Axios conducted with several businesses, nor was it a major new revenue source.
The latest: The state Senate approved SB 527 on Thursday, and the bill is now headed to the desk of Gov. Cooper. In the past, Cooper has been supportive of takeout cocktails.
- According to the bill, to-go drinks must be sealed, sold with food and cannot exceed 24 fluid ounces.
What they're saying: DoorDash, the delivery service, praised the measure.
- Staffers who deliver orders via DoorDash (called Dashers) make nearly 20% more on deliveries with alcohol compared with deliveries without, according to the company.
- Chad Horrell, DoorDash's senior manager of government relations in North Carolina, said in a statement that the bill expands "economic opportunities for merchants and Dashers alike while providing greater choice for consumers across the state."