City restaurants hope state brings back alcohol to go sales as budget deadline approaches

Alfredo Angeuiri, co-owner of Beatstro, says business automatically decreased when the executive order allowing alcohol to go sales expired last year.

News 12 Staff

Mar 24, 2022, 1:27 AM

Updated 932 days ago

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Restaurant owners across the city are hoping the state brings back alcohol to go sales as the April 1 budget deadline nears.
Alfredo Angeuiri, co-owner of Beatstro, says business automatically decreased when the executive order allowing alcohol to go sales expired last year.
"So, we saw a sharp decrease in our general revenue and our general orders," says Angeuira.
Alcohol to go could soon help businesses once again if some lawmakers get their way.
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz says he's been championing a bill that's in the state budget, allowing restaurants to continue serving alcohol to go.
"Restaurant owners liked the idea of being able to serve the alcohol because it helped them with revenue and helped them pay their rent, pay their bills and be able to make more money," says Cymbrowitz.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has also made a similar proposal, and both Democrats and Republicans are on the same page.
The proposal in the budget would only allow restaurants to sell alcoholic drinks in containers. They would not be allowed to sell bottles, which Cymbrowitz says would provide an even playing field to both restaurants and liquor stores.