The Abrupt Halt of To-Go Cocktails Leaves New York Restaurants Reeling

Owners, who relied on the drinks to stay afloat during the pandemic, are unloading cocktails and wondering what to do with all the packaging equipment that is now useless as an alcohol sales loophole is closed.

To-go cocktails are now priced to move. A financial lifeline for many restaurants during the pandemic, to-go cocktails are no more as of Friday, after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo abruptly ended New York’s coronavirus emergency order, and the state’s liquor authority shut down off-premises rights. Over the past year, the drinks were allowed under a new “off-premises privileges” rule, designed by the New York State Liquor Authority to help failing restaurants during a time of uncertainty for the food and beverage industry.