


Massachusetts lawmakers are expected to vote Thursday on a bill that codifies the pandemic-era practice of allowing for the purchase of cocktails-to-go, though the language expected to reach Gov. Maura Healey this week nixes beer and wine from the program.
Both the House and Senate agreed in a spending bill that also includes millions for the state-run shelter system to keep alive the popular alcohol provision, which proved to be a boon to restaurants and bars during the dark days of the pandemic.
House budget chief Aaron Michlewitz said the proposal scheduled for debate is a “fair compromise” to allow restaurants and bars to serve mixed drinks to-go while letting package stores sell beer and wine.
“We feel it was a fair compromise moving forward and something that I think will help … restaurants and also keep the package stores in a good position,” the North End Democrat said.
The spending bill also makes permanent outdoor dining, another well-liked program that allowed restaurants to expand the number of people they could serve during the pandemic.