SALEM, Ore. – A measure allowing Oregon’s struggling restaurant industry to sell cocktails to-go has been signed into law.
Senate Bill 1801 aims to help the state’s struggling hospitality industry by allowing restaurants to sell and deliver cocktails, mixed drinks, and a single serving of wine in a sealed container to be consumed off-premises if a meal is also ordered.
The legislation also stipulates that third-party delivery platforms can’t charge restaurants more than 15% of the purchase price for the use of their platform’s services.
The Oregon State Legislature passed SB1801 on December 21. On December 23, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed the bill into law.
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Oregon’s new plan to allow restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to go is only temporary and state regulators are keeping an eye out for problems.
At a one-day special session on Dec. 21, Oregon legislators changed state statutes to allow bars and restaurants to sell wine and cocktails to go. The idea came from other states and is an effort to help the foodservice economy weather the pandemic.
But the new law is not a free-for-all. There are limits on the number of alcoholic drinks customers can take out, and they need to pair their drink order with a food order from the same establishment.
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The Oregon Liquor Control Commission keeps track of marijuana sales for each county.
Ontario is the only city in Malheur County to allow marijuana sales, and with six dispensaries operating out of the city, according to the commission, those dispensaries brought in more than $8 million a month during the pandemic.
That’s $3 million increase compared to this time last year.
“During the pandemic, we have noticed that people either have a little more extra time or they are consuming a lot more,” Meland said. “Certainly when the stimulus money was dispersed we saw an uptick in people coming to the dispensary and stocking up as they thought that they may close at some point.”