SPOKANE, Wash. — The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) announced on Wednesday that restaurants with a "Spirits, Beer, and Wine (S/B/W)" license can sell pre-mixed cocktails to-go during the home order.
This comes after Spokane City Council members asked the state in a letter to allow cocktails for takeout and delivery to help struggling businesses.
There are several restrictions in place, though, to ensure people are not drinking and driving.
People ordering a cocktail to go must also order a complete meal, cocktails need to be in a container with a secure lid or cap to prevent consumption without the removal of the lid or cap, and pre-mixed cocktails must be placed in the trunk of the vehicle or in a place where the driver can't reach it.
Read more about the guidelines here.
The state LCB had already allowed businesses with a liquor license to temporarily offer beer and wine for takeout with food or by delivery. Beer must be in growlers, kegs or factory-sealed bottles or cans, while wine and other spirits must also be in factory-sealed bottles.
A letter signed by Spokane City Council members asked the LCB to allow licensed restaurants and bars to sell mixed drinks in cocktails in approved containers, along with the sale of other takeout and delivery orders.
“Including complete mixed drinks and cocktails, sold in LCB-approved containers, in this temporary policy would greatly help licensees in the City of Spokane survive during this period of unprecedented business restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter reads.
Councilmember Lori Kinnear drafted the letter.
"I'm was happy to help because our businesses are taking quite a hit," Kinnear said.
Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs and all city council members, apart from District 1 Council Member Kate Burke, expressed their support through signing the letter.
Kinnear said she thinks people won't be drinking and driving, and will instead take cocktails home to enjoy with dinner.
"If you're ordering dinner, take out, and you have cocktails with it, what you're most likely to do is go home in a relaxed setting and enjoy drinks and dinner," she said.