Gov. Wolf on law allowing to-go cocktail sales: 'I will sign it'

Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday he plans to sign legislation that would allow restaurants and bars to sell prepared beverages and mixed drinks and deliver them curbside.

The governor noted it was overwhelmingly approved by the state House and Senate. Wolf did not indicate when he will sign the bill into law.

Restaurants or hotels with valid liquor licenses that have lost more than 25% of their average monthly sales as a result of the coronavirus shutdown will be able to sell prepared beverages and mixed drinks and deliver them curbside.

“I will sign it,” Wolf said during a virtual news conference with reporters on an unrelated topic.

The law requires drinks to be packaged in a lidded container, and they can not exceed 64 ounces per transaction.

Customers must carry the drinks in their trunk or “some other area of the vehicle that is not occupied by the driver or passengers,” according to the bill.

Drue Spallholz, owner of The Eastwood Inn in Ligonier, said at this point the focus should be on reopening rather than on the takeout law.

“It’s sort of a shot to the gut almost,” he said. “Like, why are you doing this now? Let’s focus on what we can open.”

The Eastwood Inn has remained open for takeout orders during the pandemic, but sales have remained at 25% of what they normally would be, Spallholz said.

“I’ve been paying my liquor liability insurance for the whole time that I’ve not been able to sell any alcohol,” he said. “Those kinds of expenses really add up.”

Johnathan Huemme, owner of Sharkey’s Cafe in Unity, said the measure would have had more impact had it been allowed before alcohol stores reopened.

“It’s really more of a Band-Aid for a bullet hole, if we’re all shut down, than it is a fix for the 70% to 80% loss in sales that we have,” he said.

The restaurant, which has stayed open for takeout orders, has experienced a loss of 60% of alcohol sales.

Huemme said he believes people would still purchase cocktails from Sharkey’s because they have their own popular mixtures.

David Magill, owner of Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell, said his restaurant has lost about $65,700 in the two months they have offered takeout-only.

He expressed frustration over the amount of time it has taken the measure to pass, adding, “We’re bleeding out slowly.”

In Allegheny County, restaurants are seemingly in favor of offering to-go cocktails.

Bryan Carey, owner of Cappy’s Cafe in Shadyside, said the impact on his business has “been earth-shattering.”

Still, he believes at this point anything would help.

Dennis Bell, manager at Dive Bar and Grill in the South Side, said about 50% of regular sales come from alcohol purchases. Right now, the restaurant is operating at about 25% of normal sales.

“I don’t think it’s ever too late,” he said of the measure. “I think if you put something in place now as far as we’re still open-ended as to when we’re going to move on to the green phase, so I think putting anything in place immediately couldn’t do any harm at all.”

Tom Davidson and Megan Tomasic are Tribune-Review staff writers. You can contact Tom at 724-226-4715, tdavidson@triblive.com or via Twitter @TribDavidson. You can contact Megan at 724-850-1203, mtomasic@triblive.com or via Twitter @MeganTomasic.