For Many Bars, Christmas Could Be Last Call

The bar industry is in crisis.

Flagged early on as risky for the spread of Covid-19, some bars managed to survive because either they were permitted some indoor seating or they got by on outdoor seating.

Now, bars that remain open are relying on the critical holiday season to produce enough revenue to keep the doors open. But cold weather, plus a patchwork of restrictions, are making that effort nearly impossible for many of them.