Here’s what to know about Pa.’s cocktails-to-go law, and where to get yours in Centre County

In late May, Governor Wolf signed House Bill 327 Bill into law, allowing Pennsylvania restaurants to sell cocktails-to-go — a move that benefits restaurants in Centre County reopening under new precautions during the “green phase” of the state’s reopening plan.

“Throughout Pennsylvania alone, there has been a significant revenue loss, with restaurants reporting nearly an 82 percent decline in sales since the beginning of the shutdown. By relaxing laws in order to sell cocktails to go, many restaurants will be given a fighting chance to survive this disruption,” Melissa Bova, vice president of government affairs, Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, said in a statement at the time of the signing.

The bill dictates that restaurants may sell cocktails-to-go if they also have prepared meals available for takeout or curbside delivery. However, a food purchase is not necessary to order a cocktail. Cocktail sales are permitted until 11 p.m. and in sealed containers no larger than 64 ounces.

Centre County restaurants were quick to jump on the opportunity.

“We started promoting and dispersing cocktails as soon as we heard the bill was passed,” said Jamie Irvin, restaurant general manager, Toftrees Golf Resort and The Field. “We are featuring our regular cocktail menu plus our guest favorite: boozy milkshakes. We also brought back our featured sangria.”

Alongside the sangria, made with Lewistown-based Hawstone Hollow Winery wine, The Field is offering a selection of cocktails featuring spirits from Big Spring Spirits.

“(We have) this cocktail called Rum with the Punches and it’s made with mango rum, Big Spring Spirits coconut rum, Myer’s dark rum, pineapple and orange juice topped with grenadine,” Irvin said. “We (also) have a refreshing cocktail called Field Smash. This cocktail has Big Spring Spirits’ Golden Gin, St. Germaine, muddled cucumbers, lime and basil, topped with soda water.”

Prior to the bill’s passage, some restaurants around the county, such as Mad Mex Happy Valley in downtown State College, were offering beer or malt beverages to go. According to Chef Bill Fuller of Big Burrito Restaurant Group, after closing Mad Mex locations’ dining rooms and switching to takeout service, the team “reformulated” its favorited margaritas.

“We found a local brewer in Pittsburgh who made us a fermented beverage that was a very high alcohol, fermented sugar solution,” he said. The result was a margarita-like drink the restaurant could legally sell to go under their restaurant license, until Wolf signed the bill, allowing Mad Mex to return to its liquor-based cocktails.

So far, Fuller says, demand for the to-go cocktails has been “pretty popular.”

“It’s been a great piece of our business, more than half of our takeout,” he said.

Currently, Mad Mex is only offering margaritas to go, both on the rocks and frozen. Big Burrito Restaurant Group plans to continue offering the margaritas to go for as long as they’re able and there’s demand. The group expects takeout service to continue to be a large part of their business.

Other Centre County restaurants report less demand for to-go cocktails, but still plan to offer the option for the foreseeable future.

According to a general manager at Gigi’s Southern Table, “There is not overwhelming demand for cocktails to go. We have a few (orders) every day, but nothing that folks have repeatedly ordered over and over. We plan to offer the cocktails to go as long as we are permitted.”

Management at another Hospitality Asset Management Company restaurant, Mercato Mio, said much the same. “Mercato Mio has not seen a huge demand for cocktails to go but we do indeed intend to continue offering them through the green phase as long as we are able. Our best seller so far has been the Aperol Spritz, followed by other light, crisp, warmer weather-appropriate drinks.”

Mercato Mio is offering specialty craft cocktails with Italian twists, as well as draft and bottled beer, 4-9 p.m. via curbside pick-up. Gigi’s Southern Table is likewise offering an expansive menu of craft and classic cocktails and wine and beer by the glass. Both restaurants require ID verification ahead of pick-up. Individual shots are not available for purchase.

This story was originally published June 7, 2020 at 6:00 AM.