ABC News writes about how "thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia had special provisions in place during the pandemic that allowed restaurants and bars to deliver alcohol orders to their customers," and now, as the country reopens, "all but 11 of those states have kept their alcohol to-go rules in place following the end of their governors' emergency orders. Economic and political experts say those states that are on the fence should consider following suit if they want to ensure a stronger post-pandemic future for their restaurants."
According to the story, "Although most states have relaxed their limits on indoor capacity for businesses, restaurants and bars are still relying on takeout customers to improve their revenues … Restaurants still haven't regained 1.5 million jobs lost before the pandemic, a 12% loss, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Nearly two-fifths of restaurant owners said they still can not afford rent, according to statistics from the association."
- KC's View:
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I would imagine that supermarkets that sell alcohol and liquor/package stores probably are not wild about these expanded options for restaurants, but I think it is in the best interests of communities if we adjust the rules so that these businesses have a better chance at survival. Besides, the current numbers suggest that we're not out of the woods yet.
One of the silver linings of the pandemic has been the emergence of al fresco dining, with communities allowing restaurants to expand into parking lots and onto sidewalks, which I have to say - at least in my community - has been sort of nice. It isn't exactly Paris, but it warms the heart.
