Virginia loosened its restrictions late last week to allow restaurants to sell wine and beer for carryout and delivery. But the state-owned liquor monopoly has not yet permitted restaurants to sell liquor or cocktails to-go, something other states — including Texas, California, Maryland and New York — have done amid social distancing recommendations.

And ABC has no plans to allow restaurants to sell spirits to go, Thornberg said, despite Gov. Ralph Northam’s order this week limiting restaurants to carryout and delivery. The ban on dining in effectively ended Virginia restaurants’ ability to sell liquor in any capacity.

“With our margins being so thin there’s really no profit to speak of without the ability to sell alcohol. We survive by having the ability to sell cocktails, wine and beer,” said Joe Sparatta, who co-owns Heritage and Southbound restaurants.

Brittanny Anderson, co-owner of restaurants Brenner Pass, Chairlift and Metzger Bar & Butchery, concurred.

“[Cocktails] have the best margin of anything we sell. The cash flow alone could help us stay alive,” Anderson said. She shuttered the dining rooms at her three Richmond restaurants 10 days ago and moved to takeout .