Ohio restaurants have not been able to serve mixed drinks and straight liquor since the state put a stop to in-person dining last month. Now, the state is making a change to its rules that will allow restaurants to serve those drinks along with take-out meals.
Gov. Mike DeWine says the Ohio Liquor Control Commission passed an emergency rule allowing restaurants and carry outs that already have liquor licenses to sell alcoholic drinks to go with food orders.
“You will be able to get up to two drinks that will be pre-packaged. You cannot open them until you get home. But you can get up to two drinks per order," DeWine says.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted says the change came because state leaders were listening to businesses who had asked for the ability to serve up to two drinks as a part of carry out orders.
All of the usual taxes on those drinks will still apply. These new rules will apply as long as the state’s closure of restaurants due to coronavirus continues.
Liquor sales in stores, which are considered "essential businesses" under state guidelines, set a record in the week after bars and dine-in restaurants closed last month.
