AKRON, Ohio — The next time you order takeout, you can make a “pour decision” — and not the bad kind — meaning Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation that permanently allows the sale of alcoholic beverages for carryout or delivery.
Kaylyn Cox is a manager at Panini’s Bar and Grill. She says this comes at the perfect time as her restaurant, like many others, is trying to bounce back from the lockdowns.
“We’ve been rather slow, so we are trying to work on that. Hopefully, we can get our business back up and running soon, but with all of the tables six feet apart, we are at a smaller occupancy, obviously, so it has been a little bit tough lately.”
Bars and restaurants will be able to sell up to three covered drinks per meal — giving customers a chance to enjoy all of the features of dining in while still allowing them to stay socially distanced at home.
“I think it will increase sales all around. A lot of times people will want a mixed drink and you can’t always buy a mixed drink at a gas station, or whatever it may be,” said Cox.
She hopes that by making to-go alcoholic beverages a permeant fixture, more Ohioans will start take advantage of this new way to support local businesses.
“We really would hope to see larger amounts of carryout orders, obviously with limited seating, we have to kind of depend on the carryout orders right now.”
The new law also allows third party alcohol deliveries from companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats.
