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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MARCH 25 - MARCH 31, 2022
NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
QUEENS LEADERS URGE STATE TO
MAKE DRINKS-TO-GO PERMANENT
BY BILL PARRY
Several Queens lawmakers gathered at Mojitos Restaurant
Bar in Jackson Heights to mark the second anniversary
of the emergency orders that shut down all
dining and drinking establishments at the start of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The elected officials spoke in support of Governor
Kathy Hochul’s efforts to make alcohol-to-go permanent
in this year’s final budget.
“Just like temporary liquor licenses, bringing back
to-go cocktails is about parity for small businesses in
the restaurant industry,” state Senator Jessica Ramos
said. “During the height of the pandemic, the hospitality
industry used the expanse of its creativity to stay
afloat while keeping our communities safe. The go-to
drink revenue stream allowed them to hire more people
and reinvigorate our commercial corridors when it was
desperately needed. Now they need a lifeline to recovery
and we can deliver.”
Ramos co-sponsored the legislation with state Senator
Leroy Comrie in the upper chamber.
“Returning to a sensible to-go drinks policy would
support ongoing efforts to rebuild and recover Queens’
and New York state’s economy from the worst days of the
pandemic, remembering those worst days hit the restaurant
industry and workers particularly hard,” Comrie
said. “We must pursue a to-go drinks policy that means
these small businesses have an opportunity to thrive.”
The policy was not included in the Legislature’s budget
proposal.
“The restaurant industry, especially in New York
City where local restaurants help shape the bedrock of
many communities, were ravaged during the pandemic,”
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz said. “Drinks-to-go is
just one way the legislature can help local business owners
and stimulate the economic recovery. They simply
want to offer the same menu items to take-out customers
that dine-in customers enjoy. I call on my colleagues to
support making this revenue generator permanent.”
They said alcohol-to-go is a critical lifeline for restaurants
to recoup sales to pre-pandemic levels that provided
$4 billion in sales tax revenue to the state’s coffers,
highlighting its direct impact on state revenue.
“These last two years have made it nearly impossible
for many restaurants to stay afloat, and many small
business owners had to close their doors,” Assemblywoman
Jessica González-Rojas said. “Despite these challenges,
restaurants not only kept our communities fed
but often went above and beyond what they could do. In
my district, many struggling restaurants showed up for
our communities by donating food to hospital workers
Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas calls for the inclusion of the revenue-generating drinks-to-go initiative to be
included in the final state budget. Photo courtesy of González-Rojas’ office
on the front lines. We owe these pillars of our communities
a lifeline, and alcohol-to-go proved to be just that.”
A survey conducted by the New York State Restaurant
Association last May found that more than 78% of New
Yorkers support alcohol-to-go becoming permanent.
“The restaurants in southeast Queens are a major
factor in making our community thrive,” Assemblywoman
Alicia Hyndman said. “We have witnessed the
devastating effects of the pandemic on businesses across
New York City. The food service industry has been one
of the most affected, causing some to close their doors
forever. Drinks-to-go is just the first step in the right direction
towards economic revitalization for our restaurant
and food service industry.”
The program lasted 15 months during the height of
the pandemic but was allowed to expire last summer.
Proposals to renew the popular revenue generator faced
pushback from the New York State Liquor Store Association.
“With seeing how well the initiative worked, I believe
that issues and differences can be addressed in order
to have the alcohol-to-go policy in place to assist our local
bars and restaurants recuperate even further,” state
Senator Joseph Addabbo said.
His colleague in government from south Queens,
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, endorsed the
initiative being made permanent as part of the final enacted
budget later this month.
“Cheers!” she said.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
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