Sky Schaudt/KJZZ

Mixed drinks in jars from a Phoenix bar.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge put Gov. Doug Ducey more or less on notice in her ruling on bars this week. 

While the judge agreed that it is within Ducey’s power to close bars based on COVID-19 safety precautions, it’s a stretch for Ducey to be able to allow restaurants to sell to-go alcohol. It is against state law for restaurants to sell to-go liquor, bars were the only ones with this right, and they have been generally closed down.

But the Arizona Restaurant Association’s Dan Bogert says allowing restaurants to sell to-go alcohol was a much needed lifeline. 

“There's still a huge push and a huge market out there for to-go food. So the thought was linking that alcohol to the to-go food could help these restaurants make up some of their revenue loss and try to keep more people employed.”

The attorney representing over 100 bar owners who sued Ducey for discriminatory treatment says that it adds insult to injury that Ducey would close bars and give their competition their one key edge of selling alcohol to go. It remains unclear if  Ducey will rescind the order.

Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services joined The Show to explain the court ruling. 

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