House passes bill extending to-go alcohol sales for bars, restaurants in Del.

DOVER, Del. – To-go cocktails have been one of the most popular innovations to come out of the coronavirus pandemic, and on Wednesday the House passed legislation to allow Delaware restaurants to continue those to-go alcohol sales and outdoor dining for another year.

House Bill 1, sponsored by House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, would allow bars and restaurants to continue the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages and utilize extended outdoor seating until March of 2022, allowing customers to continue supporting their favorite bars and restaurants without risking their health and safety.

The bill would extend the temporary provisions established last year that are currently set to expire at the end of March.

“Restaurants and bars have been among the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic. It’s only through their own ingenuity and creativity, and assistance we have been able to lend them that has kept many businesses afloat,” said Rep. Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach. “The outdoor dining and to-go cocktails options have been extremely popular and have allowed restaurants and bars to serve patrons safely. These innovations are about to expire, but we are not on the other side of this crisis yet. This bill will give the hospitality industry another year of flexibility to keep their doors open.”

HB 1 now heads to the Senate for consideration.