Restaurants, Tacoma councilmembers want state to allow cocktails to go

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Owners of restaurants shut down by the coronavirus want the state Liquor and Cannabis Board to ease restrictions and allow them to sell premade cocktails to go.

Abe Fox, co-owner of Tacoma restaurant Wooden City said his business is already selling a version of premade drinks with the alcohol sold in a separate sealed bottle. Selling drinks prepared by a bartender, he says, would allow the business to use inventory already in stock.

“We had to bring a ton of smaller bottles of liquor, other inventory that cost us probably two to three grand when we could have just used the stuff on our shelves,” said Fox.

According to the Liquor and Cannabis Board, current regulations state: Beer must be in growlers, kegs or factory sealed bottles and cans, while wines and spirits must be in factory-sealed bottles.

Fox said selling cocktails to go with liquor already purchased would also greatly help the business’s bottom line.

“It also makes it easier for us because we could just make the cocktail. It also makes it easier for the consumer,” Fox said.

“Other states have done this,” said Tacoma City Councilmember Robert Thoms. “Almost a dozen have done it, including California and New York.”

Thoms said the council has sent a letter to the board and Gov. Jay Inslee asking for the change as soon as possible.

“If they could simply sell these products to go, along with a to-go order, it would represent real revenue to them and allow them to continue to operate,” said Thoms.

Thoms said the model could continue even after restaurants that are now locked up reopen completely.

“I would argue that this may be an entire paradigm shift of how restaurants operate moving forward,” said Thoms.

© 2020 Cox Media Group