Restaurants and other small businesses are facing unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We all have to do our part to stop the spread of the virus but unfortunately many restaurants will not survive. The sad truth is that for many restaurants, it is simply not mathmatically feasible to sustain their business on takeout food sales alone. 

Since being limited to only pick up and delivery food service, local restaurants have seen their sales decline at a breathtaking rate as high as 80-90% from their daily averages. Hospitality workers are being furloughed or laid off at an unprecedented rate. What many outside the industry do not realize is that food is actually the least profitable item that a restaurant produces. The most profitable items a restaurant produces are mixed drinks and cocktails. Right now, restaurants are being hammered twice. By having their ability to serve dine in customers stripped from them, and also by losing the ability to serve their most profitable items.

This is simply unsustainable for a large number of restaurants across the state of Missouri. We need our leaders to follow the lead of government leaders at the state and local levels from across the country who have already taken steps to help preserve as much of their hospitality industry as possible. (Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Texas, California, Nebraska, locally Mayor Flower of Eureka among others) If immediate action in not taken the resulting damage to our industry will result in the loss of countless jobs, small businesses and millions of dollars in tax revenue.

We, the undersigned are asking for Governor Parson to follow the lead of other governors and elected leaders around the country and temporarily waive any state laws that would prevent or interfere with the sale of mixed drink alcoholic beverages by way of delivery and takeout orders. Please remove the handcuffs from Missouri's restaurant industry and and give our restaurants a fighting chance!