Massachusetts lawmakers begin discussing making to-go cocktails permanent as part of the supplemental budget, hours after the pandemic-era measure expired.
If you were planning on ordering out Monday, you'll have to make your cocktails at home.
The pandemic-era policy expired at midnight Monday.
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"The minute you start saying no to a guest or someone who's dining in your restaurant, then they think it's just a no," said Nancy Batista Caswell with Mass Restaurants United.
But lawmakers are now pouring over a proposal that would make to-go cocktails permanent.
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"This extension of being able to sell to-go cocktails is a lifeline to restaurants that need different income streams," said Corby Kummer, executive director of Aspen Institute Food & Society.
Gov. Maura Healey has supported the push to permanently add take-out drinks to local menus. But not everyone wants to keep this law on tap.
"The emergency is over and now it's time to go back to what we were. We were always afraid in the industry that this was always going to be abused, that this was going to be something that someone would try to make permanent and unfortunately, our concerns have proven to be true," said Rob Mellion, Massachusetts Package Stores Association.
Liquor stores continue to oppose the move. But they point it's even more problematic that the current proposal is tied into the supplemental budget, which mainly focuses on migrant shelter funding.
"Drinks to go has nothing to do with the funding of emergency shelters," said Mellion.
Bay Staters are torn on the topic.
"People need to decide if they want more drunk people on the street, I think," said a man named Jason, who's against cocktails to-go.
"If there's regulations in place and that people are aware what comes with opening up access to alcohol, I think then that would be OK," said North Shore resident Caitlyn Leonard.
The measure is set to be discussed in conference committees Monday, but NBC10 Boston was told a decision on it could drag out until July.
