To-Go Alcoholic Beverage Orders from Restaurants and Bars Suspended in New Orleans
By the Alcoholic Beverage Licensing and Related Enforcement Issues Practice Group
In the midst of rising positive COVID-19 cases across Louisiana’s major cities, including New Orleans, Mayor Latoya Cantrell announced this afternoon that New Orleans will prohibit all bars and restaurants in the City from selling takeout alcoholic beverages.
The new restriction will go into effect Saturday July 25, 2020, at 6 a.m., and will remain in effect until “we move into a position of better health in the City of New Orleans,” Cantrell said in a special press conference held Friday.
As noted in a previous Taylor Porter client alert, all bars or businesses holding a Class A – General permit, with or without a food service permit from Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), were closed, effective July 13, for on-premise consumption. Therefore, Friday’s announcement by Cantrell essentially shuts down bars within the City of New Orleans.
When Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the first Phase Two extension on July 13, Cantrell announced for New Orleans more limiting restrictions that are in effect for bars within restaurants (seating at bars is prohibited) and for indoor gatherings (limited to 25 people). Cantrell stated that there is a new incentive program that will offer grants of up to $6,000 to help restaurants create more outdoor seating. The City has not published any official release with details, but this post will be updated as soon as more information is available. Click here for the City of New Orleans’ Phase Two reopening guidelines.
Louisiana remains in Phase Two restrictions until Aug. 7. On July 23, Gov. Edwards signed orders extending the phase and also the statewide mask mandate, following Louisiana surpassing 100,000 known COVID-19 cases.
The Taylor Porter Alcoholic Beverage Licensing and Related Enforcement Issues Practice Group continues to monitor the legal developments pertaining to COVID-19. Please let us know how we can help you navigate licensing and compliance issues during this unprecedented time.