Restaurant owners across the Hudson Valley have been calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to keep alcoholic "to-go" drinks legal.

She is now laying out a plan to make it happen.

Alcoholic drinks to go were the tasty silver lining throughout the pandemic - and it's what kept many restaurants like Cantina Taco & Tequila Bar in White Plains afloat.

"It is such a major, major thing for restaurateur like us mom and pop specifically, because at the end of the day that's where our margins are," says John Solo, owner of Catina Taco & Tequila Bar.

Drinks to go were always a temporary solution. They ended last June, along with the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Now the governor wants state lawmakers to make it permanent.

"We saw that this was a critical revenue stream. It kept people afloat during those dark, dark months and years," says Hochul.

On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul laid out a plan to legalize the pandemic practice.

She says the New York State Liquor Authority will iron out regulations, and it will be up to state lawmakers to approve it.

A recent poll shows 80% of New Yorkers are in favor of permitting booze takeout.

While some liquor store owners oppose codifying alcoholic drinks to go, the governor has included the measure in her proposed state budget.