Businesses in Hudson Valley Can Sell Take-Out Alcohol

Bars, restaurants, breweries, wineries and distilleries in New York State will be allowed to offer takeout alcohol.

On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced all restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters in New York State must close by Monday at 8 p.m., to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Cuomo later added restaurants and bars are allowed to stay open for take-out or delivery.

Cuomo said the New York State Liquor Authority will change its rules to allow businesses that serve alcohol to sell alcohol for to-go orders.

"Whatever you could order in the bar or restaurant or distillery or winery you can purchase through takeout, and we hope that goes a long way towards alleviating any economic hardship," Cuomo said during the press conference. "We will only allow it during this period of closure, but I think it will help those businesses."

According to Cuomo, the New York State Liquor Authority was supposed to release new rules on Monday, but as of Tuesday morning, those rules haven't been posted.

New Jersey and Connecticut joined New York in closing all restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters. Supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will stay open, officials said. Other businesses may remain open if there are fewer than 50 people working inside the business at a given time. However, later Cuomo strongly advised only services and businesses that are essential stay open.