The association wants a rollback on restrictions of covid.
Westmoreland County restaurant and bar operators say the state’s limit of 25% indoor occupancy for dining establishments unfairly targets them as being responsible for the spread of the coronavirus.
About 40 local industry members gathered Thursday at Ferrante’s Lakeview restaurant in Hempfield to share tales of how the state pandemic restrictions are crippling their businesses and to hear the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association’s strategy for rolling back some of the pandemic-related restrictions.
Chuck Moran, the association’s executive director, advocated a combination of public pressure, regulatory negotiations and legislative action.
One such legislative effort, he said, is a package of four restaurant and tavern relief bills being promoted by Sen. Pat Stefano, a Republican from Bullskin Township, Fayette County. The bills, in part, seek to eliminate the 25% restriction as well as a ban on serving patrons at bars and a requirement that customers buy a meal in order to drink alcohol on the premises — as long as establishments use barriers and social distancing to help prevent spread of the virus.
The proposed legislation also would waive for one year license renewal and permit fees charged to restaurant and tavern owners.
