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Restaurants and bars in East Ridge may now temporarily sell beer for carry-out or delivery, according to an executive order issued by the city Tuesday, March 31.
Businesses with existing beer permits for on-premises consumption can acquire a special 30-day off-site beer permit from the city at no charge.
The off-site beer permit allows for the delivery of beer in closed containers including cans, bottles or growlers.
Only employees 21 year or older who work for businesses that acquire the permit will be allowed to deliver the beer. Standard identification and beer sales laws still apply, according to a city news release.
The new order states that previous executive orders issued by the city March 20 and 25, which prohibited dine-in services at restaurants and other business activities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, "have had a detrimental impact on the business of certain beer permit holders and their employees in East Ridge."
Following an executive order issued by Gov. Bill Lee March 22 that allowed restaurants to sell alcohol for off-premise consumption, the city of Chattanooga started allowing beer deliveries, and the cities of Collegedale, Lakesite, Soddy-Daisy and Red Bank started allowing businesses to sell alcohol for off-premise consumption via carry-out and delivery with the purchase of food.
As of Tuesday, March 31, Hamilton County had 50 known cases and four confirmed deaths from COVID-19.