Brooklyn, N.Y. (WBEN) - "Who would have thought that this would be the most popular item in my entire budget?"
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was in Brooklyn on Wednesday to announce her support of recovery efforts for bars and restaurants statewide. This included the proposal that will permanently legalize the sale of to-go alcoholic drinks, as well as ensuring a more efficient State Liquor Authority.
"We are proposing to permanently allow bars and restaurants to sell to-go drinks," Gov. Hochul said during an event at Therapy Wine Bar 2.0 in Brooklyn. "We want a lot of commentary on the regulations, this is how we do it. It will be processed and reviewed by the agency, and they'll get them from the public, from the industry, and we want to hear people's experiences on how we can make this be very successful and leave no business behind."
The policy proposed as part of Gov. Hochul's Billion Dollar Rescue Plan for small businesses was a vital economic lifeline to bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it is approved and re-established, under proper limitations, it will help ensure the industry gets back on its feet and thrive.
"We saw that this was a critical revenue stream, this is what kept people afloat during those dark, dark months and years of the pandemic," Gov. Hochul said. "We said there has been a change in people's attitudes, there's an expectation now, so why set us backwards?"
This policy has been a talking point of many local businesses in Western New York, as many bars and restaurants have publicly urged New York State Legislature to make the sale of to-go alcohol permanent.
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Gov. Hochul also announced proposals to update the state's liquor laws and fund operational improvements at the State Liquor Authority to revitalize the state's multi-billion-dollar hospitality industry. To ensure SLA's policies are as smart, efficient, and effective as possible, Gov. Hochul additionally directed the State Liquor Authority to consult with industry representatives and stakeholders to review existing laws in place.
"We really have to look at all the laws that are in place that are holding us back, and so we're going to keep doing that, find more areas of red tape," Gov. Hochul said. "We are actually going to be convening a group of individuals to just look at the laws and get back to the ABCs of the ABC law, and question every part of it. I'm going to continue investing in our small businesses, our movie theaters, our restaurants, our bars and just really truly doing everything we can to reduce the burdens that people are living with and increase funding to get businesses not just opened more quickly, but also temporary permits for craft manufacturers, lowering our costs. We've got a whole agenda."
