Michigan one step closer to allowing cocktails to go
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Senate passed a bill Thursday, putting the state one step closer to permanently allowing to-go cocktails.
SB1163 would permanently allow restaurants, bars and distilleries with tasting rooms to sell the alcoholic drinks to-go.
The bill, which passed by a vote of 37-1, now goes to the House for consideration.
“Cocktails to-go continue to provide a stable source of revenue as Michigan businesses cope with the lasting challenges related to the pandemic, including staff shortages, supply chain disruptions and inflation,” Andy Deloney, Distilled Spirits Council Vice President of State Government Relations said. “This is a great step towards offering increased support for Michigan’s hospitality businesses.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 5811 into law in July 2020 temporarily allowing cocktails to-go in sealed containers until Jan. 1, 2026.
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During COVID-19, more than 35 states began allowing restaurants and/or bars to sell cocktails to-go as an economic relief measure via executive orders or other temporary measures. Since then, 18 states and the District of Columbia enacted laws to permanently allow cocktails to-go, and 14 others enacted laws that allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis. Some states are still considering cocktails to-go legislation.
States that signed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent into law include: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
