The Baltimore County Board of Liquor License Commissioners' decision is effective immediately.

Raise a glass, Baltimoreans: carryout cocktails are here to stay—for now, anyway! In a hearing Monday, the Baltimore County Board of Liquor License Commissioners passed an ordinance to continue carryout alcohol in the city. The policy, which would allow bars and restaurants to offer alcoholic beverages for pickup or delivery, has been extended for two years starting immediately.

The decision follows the expiration of Governor Larry Hogan's State of Emergency, which ended on July 1 requiring mask-wearing in public spaces.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski commended the move, emphasizing the importance of small businesses to "innovate and diversify their options" with continuing recovery efforts post-COVID.

“As we continue our recovery, we must do all we can to help our small businesses innovate and diversify their operations,” Olszewski said in a statement. “This is another commonsense step to support the continued recovery of this hard-hit industry and we applaud the board’s decision today."

When the pandemic hit, many restaurants resorted to offering carryout alcohol to stay afloat when dining room service wasn't an option. And even as people return to post-lockdown life, the demand for takeout booze has yet to dwindle. In May, Hogan signed a two-year extension on the measure, while DC, West Virginia, and Georgia are among the dozen states who've implemented carryout liquor service for good.

While we're surprised it took this long for carryout alcohol to take off in the U.S., we welcome it with open arms and hope it sticks around. In the meantime, celebrate by visiting your favorite restaurant for a takeout beverage of your choice. Cheers!

Will you continue ordering alcohol to-go? Would you like it to be a permanent option? Let us know in the comments.