WJZNews
By Janay Reece
Updated on: January 30, 2025 / 3:51 AM EST / CBS Baltimore

LOCAL NEWS
Maryland lawmakers push to allow cocktails to-go in Baltimore CountyBy Janay Reece
Updated on: January 30, 2025 / 3:51 AM EST / CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE COUNTY — You may want to get your favorite drink order ready.
Maryland lawmakers are proposing a new bill, HB 0770, that may make it easier for adults to order cocktails to-go from their favorite restaurant.
"I think it's time to open Baltimore County up to allow this really reasonable practice," said Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore County District 7A Delegate.

Past Alcohol Beverage Laws In 2021 Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bill extending the take-out cocktails and alcohol delivery measure during the covid pandemic. 
The initiative ended in 2023. 
But Maryland Lawmakers like Del. Szeliga and Del. Carl Jackson are working together to bring the measure back to Baltimore County permanently. 
"You can currently get alcohol delivered in Baltimore County, a closed bottle of wine, a closed beer. So this really makes sense, and is part of modernizing the way we do things today," explained Szeliga.
Gelmin Portillo owner Taco Love Grill in White Marsh. The restaurant has been open since 2011. He believes for some restaurants alcohol and drink sales are changing.
"We also have to understand that after the pandemic, there's been a shift in the way that consumers behave when it comes to eating out," explained Portillo. "There's less and less people dining out, and we have to adapt to those times as well."
Current Alcohol Beverage Laws Portillo believes the new bill could help — if it is done right.
"This type of regulation has been proven that it can work in other jurisdictions, and we believe that it can work here as well with the right regulation," said Portillo.
Currently, there are some Maryland counties that let users order alcoholic beverages from local merchants for delivery by third-party platforms like DoorDash.  
Delivery drivers will have to apply for a service permit at an annual rate of $1,000, which allows them to deliver alcohol from authorized businesses.  
People who purchase or receive alcoholic beverages must be at least 21 years old and provide valid identification as proof of age upon delivery of the alcohol.
With HB0770 being introduced, it will expand what restaurants can offer to customers.
"You can currently get alcohol delivered in Baltimore County, a closed bottle of wine, a closed beer. So this really makes sense, and is part of modernizing the way we do things today" said Szeliga. 
Addressing Concerns Szeliga is aware there are safety concerns surrounding the proposed bill, but she said there are provisions within it to protect customers. 
"This bill has provisions like the cocktail to go has to have a lid, without a straw, without a hold or a straw, and it's going to be taped down which makes sense because you don't want it to spill. And you know, we'll have revisions to ensure it's not something that could be easily accessed," Szeliga explained.
"Know that it can be done, and this bill is going to have some provisions in it to ensure that people are not drinking and driving and that minors are not getting a hold of it."
The bill is still in its early stages and has a few more steps before it can go to the governor's desk.

WNCT9
by: Gabby Sartori, Mekaela Muck
Posted: Jan 6, 2025 / 01:05 PM EST
Updated: Jan 6, 2025 / 11:20 PM EST

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Ordering takeout is one of the most convenient forms of customer service for many people. 
Cocktails to-go are officially back after their five-year hiatus since COVID-19. Under Senate Bill 527, you can order a cocktail to-go through a restaurant’s order service or Doordash. 
During COVID-19, Sup Dogs initially had the cocktail to-go service and they are excited to have it back once again.
“It’s nice that people are over order food and maybe instead of spending 10, 20 bucks on food, they’re adding on an additional 510 bucks for a drink to go,” Owner of Sug Dogs Bret Oliverio said. “So, it’s additional revenue for restaurants and, you know, I’m just glad that there’s processes in place that make things safe and gives restaurants a chance to make a little bit more revenue.” 
When ordering a cocktail to-go, you must order a meal too. North Carolina is the 29th state to permanently allow cocktails to-go.

Published:  The Roanoke Times
April 7, 2024

The 1980s called. They want their alcohol policy back.
Dan Casey’s opinion piece [“Legal cocktails-to-go: Freedom or just dumb?” March 26] ignores the most recent research on alcohol laws and regulations completely. This is especially true when it comes to Virginia alcohol law, and more importantly, the recently adopted cocktails to-go law. The R Street Institute, where I work, is one of the only nonpartisan think tanks in the country that analyzes alcohol laws and regulations. I am confident that our work is more current and relevant than the sources Dan Casey cites.
The piece points out the many states — 26 states and the District of Columbia — that have made cocktails to-go permanent. That is where most of the facts related to this issue ends, and the conjecture begins. Mr. Casey points out that Maryland is notably absent from the list of states that have made cocktails to-go permanent because the state allowed its pandemic era law to expire because of “drive-thru bars” in a 1980s rural county.
The only facts he references are from a 1984 Washington Post article related to drinking and driving rates. A lot has changed in 40 years, including the passage of the Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which pushed states to raise the legal drinking age to 21.
He conveniently overlooks the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (VABC) report last year to the General Assembly which found compliance related underage drinking laws for restaurants was similar to that of VABC brick-and-mortar stores.
In fact, the R Street Institute has found that almost every state that permitted delivery and to-go alcohol during COVID-19 witnessed a decrease in underage drinking. Likewise, states that allowed alcohol delivery saw their overall drinking rates rise less than those that prohibited delivery. In terms of drunk driving, states that allowed alcohol delivery experienced lower increases in drunk driving deaths during the pandemic — which intuitively makes sense, given that home-delivery of alcohol allows consumers to avoid driving back from the bar after numerous drinks.
In the future, Mr. Casey may want to use more precise data than a Reagan-era Washington Post article on Maryland when discussing 21st century alcohol laws in Virginia.
Robert Melvin, Richmond

RADIO IQ | By Michael Pope
Published April 1, 2024 at 5:00 AM EDT

Governor Glenn Youngkin is putting his signature on a bill legalizing cocktails to go. 
The idea emerged during the pandemic – customers could help their favorite restaurants stay in business by ordering a margarita or an old fashioned as a takeout item.
Now, the governor is agreeing with lawmakers, allowing the temporary fix to become a permanent solution for restaurants. 
"In Virginia's restaurants, we really have fostered a culture of mixology and experimentation and sort of high-level bartending," says Tommy Herbert at the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association. "And I would recommend for all of the listeners to try something new from one of our great restaurants here in the Commonwealth. You might be very impressed with the mixology skills that you encounter."
The bill, which will become a new law this summer, allows restaurants to sell cocktails to go, although the jury is still out on third-party vendors like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Here's Delegate Holly Seibold, a Democrat from Vienna.
"So, I keep hearing that we’re working to become compliant, but what is the plan? Because I just have a hard time visualizing that we can regulate a delivery service of alcohol," Seibold says.
The new law will allow DoorDash and Uber Eats to deliver cocktails for two years, although lawmakers say if there are problems, they're willing to pull the plug for third-party vendors.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio,

WVEC-13
Author: Kathleen Lundy
Published: 2:32 PM EDT March 22, 2024
Updated: 2:32 PM EDT March 22, 2024

Many states also had similar laws allowing to-go cocktails during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when drinking inside crowded areas was a health risk.

RICHMOND, Va. — A bill permanently legalizing to-go cocktails and mixed wine was passed by the Virginia General Assembly and was approved by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday.
Youngkin signed 36 bills into law and offered amendments to two bills. One of the pieces of legislation signed was House Bill 688, which permanently allows businesses to offer cocktails to-go, just in time for National Cocktail Day taking place this Sunday.
Many states also approved similar laws allowing to-go cocktails during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when drinking inside crowded areas like bars was discouraged and sometimes banned.
​

In Virginia, this was due to expire on July 1, 2024, but this bill makes the change a permanent fixture.


Senior Vice President and Head of State Public Policy at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Andy Deloney, praised Youngkin's decision on Thursday and explained that "During the pandemic, cocktails to-go were a critical source of revenue for many businesses, and now, the increased convenience and stability they offer is permanent. We applaud the Legislature and Governor Youngkin for supporting Virginia businesses and consumers by making cocktails to-go permanent.”
“Permanence for cocktails-to-go is a great win for Virginia’s ABC-licensed restaurants,” said Eric Terry, president and CEO of Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association.