By Dion Lefler and Chance Swaim
Tribune News Service
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has issued an executive order that could allow drive-thru and carryout cocktail service for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kelly had already relaxed rules against bars and restaurants selling bottled alcoholic beverages to go. Her new order, signed Wednesday, allows sales of alcoholic beverages that are not packaged in an original container.
“Closure of in-person services at restaurants and bars effectively prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages that will spoil if not consumed by a certain date, resulting in significant financial hardships for many Kansas businesses, further burdening Kansas employees and their families who have lost income due to these circumstances,” Kelly wrote in the new order.
The order allows the sale of alcoholic beverages for carryout consumption and permits the sale of liquor in a container that is not the original container for any establishment holding a class A club license, class B club license or drinking establishment license.
The order applies to a wide variety of bars and clubs, but is primarily aimed at providing an additional revenue source to restaurants.
“I understand how many Kansas restaurants rely on the sale of alcoholic beverages,” Kelly said in a news release. “My administration is doing all it can to ease the burden on Kansas employees and their families who have lost income due to this crisis.”
At least one Kansas fast-food chain — Wichita-based Spangles — is closely studying the order and hoping to offer drive-thru margaritas and screwdrivers.
Before coronavirus orders shut down dining rooms across the state, Spangles’ 99-cent mixed drinks — introduced in November — were a hit with customers who wanted harder beverages with their burgers and fries.
Spangles spokeswoman Rene Steven said the restaurant chain wanted to offer the popular mixed drinks when Kelly’s first order was issued.
“Before, we couldn’t, after all the hoopla” surrounding the order, Steven said. “We were trying to figure out how we could do that, but we couldn’t because it was just for beer and wine.”
Steven said the new order may be too little too late. The stay-at-home order is scheduled to expire May 3 and Steven said unless that’s extended, it may not make sense to gear up to sell drinks out the window.
To prevent drinking while driving, the governor’s order requires that the alcohol be sealed inside a tamper-evident plastic bag when it leaves the drinking establishment.
“How long are we talking here — two weeks, three weeks,” Steven said. “We would have to figure out the container that it would go in, we may have to charge more because it’s through the drive-thru, and the containers may cost more.
“There’s a lot to consider, but we’re interested. And we’ll be considering all of the pros and cons of doing that.”