Outdoor dining and drinking confusion

Governor cuomo is causing more confusion for bars and restaurants.

He is now saying that he did not intend for restaurants to serve alcohol outdoors...calling it a significant problem.

Local restaurant owners and the oneida county executive are weighing in tonight.

News channel 2's caitlin irla reports.

Victoria - .

None .

None "i have four tables inside, if i didn't have that tent my doors would already be closed."

Governor cuomo causing confusion for many resturant and bar owners across the state.

In a tweet on tuesday cuomo says "let's be clear... outdoor dining is now permitted statewide... outside drinking is not."

"you don't dine when you go to a restaurant to drink.

That is drinking and it would've been outside drinking that we would've authorized we didn't authorize outdoor drinking."

Standup - "local bar and restaurant owners say they're confused about governor cuomos comments regarding using the pandemic as an excuse to serve drinks outdoors, and they're not the only ones.

Oneida county executive anthony picente also weighting in."

"im as confused as the bar owners and clearly the designation did not state that at the begging that you could eat outside.

Governor cuomo's said last week that bars and restaurants can only serve alcohol to people who also order food.

Now he and the state liquor authority says chips aren't in compliance.

"we did always have a menu for our patrons, by no means do we have a problem feeding them but i don't think they should be forced to do it."

Victoria bennison owns benni's place in holland patent.

She says it's hard to keep up with the regulations that are changing constantly.

"i've been here working for hard for this, and its very frustrating when i keep getting threatened to lose my lively hood, i got approved for an outside tent by the state liquor authority, knowing there would be alcohol outside."

Cuomo says the state liquor authority has already suspended several liquor licenses... in the city.

"we've been doing what we need to do and this is small, and i don't like that he keeps threatening us because of what new york city is doing."

Picente says he understands the frustration.

"to tell these restaurants at that time that you can expand outdoors but you can only serve food, i don't follow it i don't get it i think its is unfair to these establishment's."

Caitlin irla, news channel 2.

> going county by county with coronavirus