Some restaurant owners are raising a glass to Gov. Kathy Hochul following her announcement about her desire to bring back to-go cocktails Wednesday. 

This comes as many restaurants and bars have faced increasing challenges with the winter spike in cases caused by the Omicron variant and severe staffing shortages. 

The program that allowed to-go drinks started during the lockdown in 2020 and was in effect until June 2021 when the emergency regulation expired. It is probably coming back, but not immediately–this time it has to go through the state legislature. 

Hochul included it in her annual policy goals and with overwhelming support from many restaurant owners, the program seems like it's got a promising future. 

New York lawmakers did not previously extend the policy this last June during their legislative session, but with the government's support, many say this time it might become a more permanent option in our city.