Restaurant to-go alcohol sales could become permanent

Florida restaurants would be able to sell alcohol for take out and delivery under a bill approved by a Senate committee Tuesday that would would make permanent a suspension of rules the governor allowed during the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation is still being put through the process.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last year allowing alcohol to go to help restaurants that were losing business as people stayed home and capacity restrictions were enforced. While DeSantis has since lifted capacity limits, he has expressed support for allowing the businesses to continue take out and delivery of cocktails, wine and beer.

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee unanimously approved Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley’s bill.

“COVID-19 has created a tremendous stress on the restaurant industry,” Bradley said. “The current executive order has been a lifeline. It has helped restaurants accomplish a goal of being successful while also providing a convenience for consumers.”

The bill would limit alcohol to go to restaurants whose sales are at least 51 percent food. Containers would have to be sealed and placed in a locked compartment or the backseat of a vehicle out of a drivers reach.

I suppose it’s good for business,” Mike Myers told WINK News.

But not everyone feels the same way.

“I’m not quite sure the purpose,” Terri Martini told WINK News. “I would think, if you were the owner of a restaurant or a bar, it’s better to have people there.”

Martini thinks restaurants would lose money because people would not be buying that extra drink after they’ve already had one.

“They may spend more money and the company of being together as opposed to if you take your drink and go home,” Martini said.

She also says having alcohol in your vehicle might not be the safest idea.

“It’s too tempting, I think,” Martini said.

Myers says it’s no different than being tempted after you pick up drinks from a store.

“I don’t think it will be a lead to drunk driving situations,” Myers said. “If you’re buying it as a takeout product, it’s really not terribly different than buying alcohol at a gas station and driving it to your home.”

A similar proposal to this one is scheduled to go before the Florida House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee Thursday.

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