COLUMBUS, Ohio — A bill that would allow cocktails to-go from bars and restaurants permanently in Ohio has passed through both chambers of the Ohio legislature on Wednesday and is headed to Governor Mike DeWine's desk for signature.
Gov. DeWine's signature would officially make Ohio the second state in the country to make cocktails to-go a permanent measure intended for economic relief in the hospitality business amid the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.
"The legislature has recognized the desperate situation Ohio's restaurants and bars are in and passed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent to provide increased stability for these struggling businesses," Vice President of State Government Relations for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States David Wojnar said in a press release. "With cocktails to-go, many Ohio businesses have escaped permanent closure, but with continued uncertainty in the months to come, permanency is needed. Governor DeWine was one of the first to implement cocktails to-go via executive order, and we are hopeful he will sign this legislation and make Ohio the second state to make cocktails to-go permanent in the COVID era."
To date, over 30 states are permitting restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to-go. Iowa became the first state to permanently allow the measure at the end of June earlier this summer.
