Cocktails To Go? Hawaii Restaurants Hope Service Will Outlast The Pandemic…The COVID-19 pandemic prompted dozens of states to allow bars and restaurants to sell to-go alcohol. Will Hawaii’s new liquor policy stick after the virus subsides?
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and The Pig and The Lady’s dining room closed, Alex Le, general manager of the Honolulu Vietnamese restaurant renowned for its food and cocktails, was stuck with an inventory of almost $100,000 worth of alcohol.
Suddenly, the option to sell that alcohol for carryout and home delivery became possible in April 2020, extending the restaurant a lifeline — and a new revenue stream.
Nearly a year later, wine and whiskey by the bottle, six-packs of beer and pre-packaged cocktail kits are in high demand as take-away food and drink orders now account for nearly 75% of the restaurant’s total sales — up from about 10% before the pandemic, according to Le.
