35 states allowed restaurants to sell wine for off-premise consumption, boosting revenue and connection to customers
Ryan Fletter, owner and wine director of Denver's Barolo Grill, says selling wine to go allowed them to keep in touch with customers.
(Matt Nager)
By
Jul 20, 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged restaurant revenues across the United States this past year, authorities in 35 states threw eateries a lifeline in the form of relaxed alcohol restrictions, allowing restaurants to sell wine and cocktails to go in an attempt to support the struggling industry. Now that indoor dining numbers have picked up, diners across the U.S. are seeing a mishmash of changes, from permanent legalization to total reversal. It's leaving hospitality teams relieved and grateful in some parts of the country, and fuming and concerned in others.