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Illinois

* Press release…

Building on efforts to support the hospitality industry through the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 2682, a bipartisan piece of legislation, which allows the sale of cocktails by bars and restaurants with liquor licenses for pickup and delivery.

“Restaurants and bars are beloved businesses in so many of our communities and also some of the hardest hit from the COVD-19 pandemic,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This legislation will provide these businesses with a critical tool to bring in additional income until they can safely and fully reopen their doors once more. As we move forward, I am fully committed to taking every action available to us and pursuing all resources at the state and federal level to support this critical industry.”

“COVID-19 has devastated our independent restaurants and bars who patiently and cooperatively closed since the outset of the pandemic back in March,” said Illinois State Sen. Feigenholtz. “Illinois joins 34 other states in enacting this policy. This new law provides restaurants and bar owners with a survival tool as they wait to open safely and to their full capacity.”

“Cocktails to go is a small but important initiative designed to help our hospitality industry get back on its feet after COVID-19,” said Illinois State Rep. Zalewski. “I’m excited about its prospects to drive customers back to bars and restaurants and thank Governor Pritzker for his support.”

Cocktails can only be delivered in a sealed, labeled container with a tamper-evident cap or seal by an employee of the liquor license holder who is over the age of 21 and trained in responsible alcohol service. Cocktails may not be delivered via a third party delivery app. Cocktails can only be delivered after an employee verifies the age as well as the level of intoxication of the consumer.

The legislation also delays late fees and license fees for liquor licenses for businesses and establishes automatic liquor license renewal approval and extension for any license holder whose business or operations have been suspended in any capacity due as a result of COVID-19.

There will be a delay in Chicago until mid-June so the city council can pass an ordinance.

* The Question: Will you take advantage of this new law? Why or why not?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 2:46 pm

Comments

Yes. I want to support the bars and restaurants in my neighborhood. I could go for a negroni right about now.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 2:48 pm
A lot of places are already doing this, and I am taking advantage of it.

Comment by 44th Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 2:50 pm
No because alcohol is not my poison. Now if they had outdoor marijuana lounges or patios…

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 2:52 pm
As a neat whiskey drinker, probably not. Part of the fun and experience is enjoying the vibe of the bar and developing a relationship with the staff. Probably opt for the occasional patio/outdoor seating establishment instead.

Comment by Chambanalyst Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 2:56 pm
No. Seldom drink. When I do, prefer bourbon neat.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 2:57 pm
Generally, no. I’m a pretty solid mixologist and have all I need, and, I generally drink Rye straight anyway.

I might go for a Sunday Bloody Mary, but there are already bars in Chicago selling Bloody Mary kits with a full bottle of vodka. I highly recommend the one at Mrs. Murphy and Sons

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 2:59 pm
I’m normally a beer drinker and it’s more convenient and cheaper to drink at home. But, I might be tempted to use this to try some cocktails I’ve been interested in without having to actually experience the whole bar scene (which I tend to find unpleasant to my aesthetic impulses).

Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:00 pm
Already “helped” local Mexican restaurants by picking up Margaritas. Looking forward to having delivery of umbrella drinks (think Shangrila Treasure) with Asian food. Although I wouldn’t get out as much.

Comment by 37B Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:01 pm
No. I can make my own.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:02 pm
Probably not. I’m not a cocktail person much. My tipple is wine.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:03 pm
Yes, we have, our City pushed it through a little more quickly to help support our restaurants. It was nice to have with dinner.

Comment by Bored HouseMom Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:07 pm
“Will you take advantage of this new law?”

Yes, but not in the immediate future.

“Why or why not?”

Because the Hideout has always been there for me, so I’ll support them as best as I can.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:14 pm
Will not change much. Already have supplies at home.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:15 pm
Probably not. I just like beer. The Good Stuff, mind you.

Comment by DownstateR Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:19 pm
I think it’s great— yes will definitely take advantage of that… I miss a good dirty martini & if I can support a local business at the same time… win-win.

Comment by Lily Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:30 pm
No. Sorry, too little too late. The main point of “having a cocktail” is the social meeting up at a specific place and enjoying the beverage with someone else either at the bar or at a table. Another point of going out to “have a cocktail” is it being served in the perfect glass or stemware shape for its specific type. This law addresses neither of those reasons that people like to have a cocktail out.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:33 pm
I rarely drink any more, but when I do it is a CC & 7 or a beer … so I don’t see this making any difference personally. Any if I’m going to have a CC & 7, I want to be eating a steak at Nick & Nino’s or the Old Lux.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:38 pm
=The Good Stuff=

Downstate that usually means Busch Light.

To the post- no, I generally stay out of bars because I am not much of a drinker and what I do for a living.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:38 pm
Yes but only for a specialty cocktail I cannot make at home such as a Rumrunner or like.

Comment by Original Rambler Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:40 pm
One thing I enjoy in hot weather, and along the MS Gulf Coast is the frozen daiquiri shops that can sell in to go containers. Would be a good additional option this summer.

Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:42 pm
I thought this was kind of a consolation prize for Sam Toia and the hospitality industry. It rated a big “meh” from me.

I’ve been ordering food from my favorite restaurants and tipping very, very well for my standards because I understand they are hurting. But cocktails to go isn’t my thing. If it happens to be your thing, good on you.

I just thought, given the massive number of bills that got sidelined during the condensed session, this was a gratuitous favor and quite far from a high priority issue. Maybe ask Reps. Welch or West if they could have gotten one of their bills greased during session, or this one, which they would have preferred.

Sorry, I know hindsight and all that isn’t fair. But it struck me at the time that cocktails to go was a superfluous waste of legislative time.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:48 pm
No, I don’t drink. But if I did, I’d make what I want at home.

Comment by Nameless Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:49 pm
I will because I want to support a few key places. I just hope they offer cocktails I like. The premixed concept seems to work much better for a margarita (not really my thing) than a sazerac (definitely my thing).

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:53 pm
Rarely drink, usually about 1 at family get-togethers (Christmas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, etc.). Since Covid-19, no get-togethers, no drinks.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:54 pm
Elaborating on my earlier post:
I’ve always heard that restaurants make most of their money on liquor rather than food. Even though I know I can do the same or better making drinks at home, and far more cheaply, the point is to support my local places as much as possible. Oh the sacrifices I make. When’s dinner?

Comment by 37B Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:56 pm
No. Because of the organization I work for, my drinking is done at home. SO allows me to drink merlot or other red wine. Will get an occasional bottle of good bourbon.

This new law kind of reminds me of the Wisconsin traveler drink. My younger sister was relating how she stopped at a local bar for a drink to take home to her SO. She called it a “traveler”. Bar tender asked if she wanted a straw in the cup to drink in her way home.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:20 pm
No - Too much temptation to drink it on way home
(like Donuts, virtually impossible to wait)

Comment by Red Ketcher Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:20 pm
No, because alcohol is my poison…I’m with Grandson of Man…cannabis delivery should be made available statewide…if you ask me.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:27 pm
We’ve done so earlier in stay-at-home, will probably continue now from specific places for specific drinks (like a killer lemon cello I know about).

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 6:49 pm
Not a drinker. Somewhere along the way it lost its allure.

Comment by SSL Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 7:02 pm
No, I don’t drink much. (Proof: my husband and I still have half a six pack of PBR that I bought us a couple months ago)

Comment by Tynie Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 7:09 pm
Nope. I’ve always enjoyed mixing my own.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 10:29 pm
Of course, we have to support our businesses plus i heard it could be helpful when navigating my boat

Comment by Flexible One Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 11:15 pm
Yes. You could make them yourself but I’d like these restaurants and bars to survive. If this helps them, I’m all for it.

Comment by Anon E Moose Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 7:29 am
=== No. Sorry, too little too late. The main point of “having a cocktail” is the social meeting up at a specific place and enjoying the beverage with someone else either at the bar or at a table.===
Now it can have another main point, saving your favorite watering hole til we get a vaccine.
=== Another point of going out to “have a cocktail” is it being served in the perfect glass or stemware shape for its specific type.===
My dog won’t mind that I drink out of a paper cup, lol.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 8:08 am