Oregon Legislature passes bill allowing cocktails to-go, community speaks out

It’s a decision many say could throw a lifeline for businesses who have struggled to keep business going in this pandemic.

Will get there!

Reportinf live oregon lawmakers are throwing a lifeline to restaurants and bars.

This comes after a bill was passed in yesterday's special session giving them the green light to sell cocktails to- go-with some tight restrictions.

Kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy breaks this down for us and shares why many are now feeling a bit of relief--during a struggle to survive financially.

Many described the news as a light at the end of the tunnel.

Laura: "finally!

Why so long?"

Laura hines and joe keifer lucas are partners and managers of bar purlieu in eugene.

Joe: "a big part of our job, or at least like, from our perspective is the atmosphere,service the drinks you cut all of that out and it's just the food.

That's a different business than we were doing."

But there are limits: the cocktails must be served in a sealed container.

And there's a limit of two per person-- and those have to be purchased with sizeable amount of food.

Also included in the bill is a limit on fees a third party delivery service can place on a restaurant.

Bridge: some say oregon is a bit late to the game.

Over 30 states allow restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to go.

Jason brandt is the president and ceo of the oregon restaurant and lodging association.

Jason: "to go cocktails is a helpful tool in the toolkit.

We have to find new creative, innovative ways to generate revenue to try to help these small businesses survive."

While concerns about this passage have already sparked-- some want to clear a few things up.

Laura: "you can't drink and drive with a beer in your car and you can't drink and drive with an unsealed cocktail in your car it's the same thing."

Adam: "there are laws in place about consuming an open beverage in a car already, and we would just remind everyone in the public to you know be responsible."

Once enforced, this will expire 60 days after governor brown's emergency order ends.

That order was recently extends until march 3.

Reporting in eugene kennedy dendy kezi 9 news.

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