Mass. lawmakers eye permanent extension of cocktails-to-go without beer and wine
Massachusetts lawmakers are expected to vote Thursday on a bill that codifies the pandemic-era practice of allowing for the purchase of cocktails-to-go.
The language expected to reach Gov. Maura Healey, however, nixes beer and wine from the program.
Both the House and Senate agreed in a spending bill that also includes millions for the state-run shelter system to keep alive the popular alcohol provision, which proved to be a boon to restaurants and bars during the dark days of the pandemic.
House budget chief Aaron Michlewitz said the proposal scheduled for debate is a “fair compromise” to allow restaurants and bars to serve mixed drinks to-go while letting package stores sell beer and wine.
“We feel it was a fair compromise moving forward and something that I think will help … restaurants and also keep the package stores in a good position,” the North End Democrat said.
The spending bill also makes permanent outdoor dining, another well-liked program that allowed restaurants to expand the number of people they could serve during the pandemic.
More Stories
Choosing An Office Coffee Supplier: What Matters Beyond the Machine
When businesses look at office coffee, the machine usually gets most of the attention. That makes sense at first. It...
An SEO’s guide to ethical AI use
Navigating the ethics of AI in modern SEO The AI x SEO crossover isn’t just a trend; it’s the next...
Enhancing Industrial Efficiency with High-Speed Robot Palletizers
In modern manufacturing and logistics, automation plays a critical role in improving efficiency and reducing manual labour. One of the...
Top 3 AI Search Visibility Solutions for Enterprise Teams: 2026 Rankings
Most enterprise brands have no idea how they appear in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. A Daily Emerald roundup of the...
Top Ecommerce Development Companies for UK Businesses [2026 Review]
When UK businesses evaluate ecommerce development partners, the gap between agencies that build storefronts and those that architect scalable commerce...
Why ADHD and entrepreneurship can drive success and create challenges in equal measure
There is a stage in entrepreneurship that many founders and senior leaders struggle to make sense of. On paper, things...
