bars

More than a year into the COVID-19 restrictions that have reshaped much of public life, Massachusetts now has a target date for when its business and capacity limits are set to be lifted: Aug. 1, 2021. That date could come earlier depending on key public health metrics around vaccination, hospitalizations and case counts, Gov. Charlie Baker said.

State officials are cracking down on violators of COVID safety rules this St. Patrick’s Day in Massachusetts — particularly for bars and restaurants in Boston. Officials with the Massachusetts Health Department and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission are on high alert for individual people and places that are breaking the rules. In addition to keeping the standard six feet of…

State officials are cracking down on COVID safety rules for St. Patrick’s Day this year.

State officials are cracking down on COVID safety rules for St. Patrick’s Day this year.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that the state will relax coronavirus restrictions on restaurants starting Monday, increasing the number of people allowed per table from six to 10 and allowing establishments to use bar seating for food service.

Vermont is easing restrictions on schools effective Saturday, which includes permitting inter-scholastic competitions starting this weekend. “We wanted to give our student athletes an extra weekend for what has already been a shortened season,” Vermont Education Secretary Dan French said Tuesday. “This is particularly important for our students participating in activities that have short seasons to begin with.” Through a…

Rhode Island is stepping up enforcement of rules for out-of-state travelers and ordering bars to close earlier due to an increase in new cases of the coronavirus, according to Gov. Gina Raimondo. Eleven percent of new cases stem from out-of-state travel, she said at a Wednesday news conference. Beginning Sunday, anyone coming from one of the 33 states on Rhode…

Ten restaurants and bars in Rhode Island have been issued COVID-19 related compliance orders, according to the state Department of Health. In inspections of the businesses, staff and patrons were allegedly observed not wearing masks, not practicing social distancing, and establishments were not screening patrons for symptoms of COVID-19, health officials said Wednesday. In addition, some establishments were not meeting…

Reaction is pouring in now that Massachusetts is officially allowing bars and restaurants to sell cocktails with takeout food orders. While business owners are thrilled, they say they need a lot more relief to survive.   Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill into law on Monday. It allows any restaurant or a bar with a liquor license to sell…

The beers are back and so are the patrons at The Tam Bar in Boston’s Theater District. “It is a big deal,” said bartender Lyn Grande. “You have to get the city back. We need people.” At first, it didn’t look like the Tam could open until Phase 4, which is when bars in Massachusetts will be given the...

A Houston bar owner who believed he could no longer provide a safe environment for his staff, customers and himself felt he had no choice but to shut down his business

Many Black-owned bars and restaurants have been hit harder by the coronavirus pandemic, which disproportionately impacts people of color.

Looking to grab a drink at your favorite watering hole? Unless it provides seated food service, you’ll have to wait until Phase 4 after administration officials delayed the reopening timeline for bars. Bars were originally slated to open in Phase 3 of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s restart plan but were moved to Phase 4 after administration officials determined that if…

In another move to reopen Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott is allowing people to play low-contact recreational sports with restrictions as officials continue to watch an outbreak near Burlington. “I know how difficult this has been,” Scott said Friday. “Kids have been cooped up and away from their friends for months and it’s not so easy for adults, either.” Low-contact...

As many restaurants and bars struggle during the pandemic, several business owners are calling on the state to let them sell liquor and cocktails to go. Massachusetts currently allows beer and wine to be sold with takeout and delivery orders, but liquor and mixed drinks don’t apply. Boston bar director Jackson Cannon is hoping to change that with his...

We are now in the middle of Phase 1 of the gradual reopening of Massachusetts as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and while Phase 2 will mark the opening of restaurants (with restrictions) and Phase 3 will mark the opening of bars, how, exactly, does Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration define what a bar is in this case? It doesn’t seem as…

While many local businesses slowly reopen, San Diego, California bars remain shut down because of the public health order. That means thousands of local bartenders who relied on tips, are now struggling to figure out whether or not they need to carve out a new career path.

Governor Phil Scott says he has no tolerance for people turning travel restrictions into an “us versus them” mentality

Over the past few weeks, countless restaurants and bars in Boston have closed for at least the time being, and the possibility of many of them never reopening could lead to a serious problem for dining and drinking spots that do plan to open back up. Before the coronavirus outbreak led to restrictions where restaurants and bars could only offer…

An historic seaside area just north of Boston no longer has any takeout options for at least the time being. According to a tweet from @JimMacKayOnAir of WBZ 1030, restaurants along Revere Beach Boulevard have been told to stop offering takeout, which means that they can only do delivery at this point, as Revere has seen a dramatic increase in…