S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2324
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 16, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN, LUPARDO, GLICK, STIRPE, FALL, LEVENBERG,
   LUNSFORD,  ZACCARO,  DINOWITZ,  KELLES, CLARK, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, DAVILA,
   K. BROWN -- read once  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Consumer
   Affairs and Protection
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  general  business  law, in relation to allowing
   certain reusable beverage containers in sports venues
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
 391-r to read as follows:
   §  391-R.  REUSABLE  BEVERAGE  CONTAINERS  IN  SPORTS  VENUES.  1. FOR
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE  THE  FOLLOWING
 MEANINGS:
   (A)  "REUSABLE  BEVERAGE  CONTAINER"  MEANS  A DRINKING VESSEL THAT IS
 COMPOSED PRIMARILY OF ALUMINUM OR STAINLESS STEEL, AND IS  DESIGNED  AND
 MANUFACTURED  TO  BE  CAPABLE  OF MULTIPLE REUSES, INCLUDING A BOTTLE OR
 CUP.
   (B) "SPORTS VENUE" MEANS A BUILDING,  STRUCTURE,  OR  PLACE  IN  WHICH
 PROFESSIONAL OR COLLEGIATE SPORTING COMPETITIONS ARE HELD.
   2.  A  SPORTS  VENUE  SHALL  NOT  PROHIBIT AN INDIVIDUAL ATTENDING ANY
 PROFESSIONAL OR COLLEGIATE SPORTING COMPETITION  IN  SUCH  SPORTS  VENUE
 FROM  BRINGING  A  REUSABLE  BEVERAGE  CONTAINER  INTO THE SPORTS VENUE;
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER:
   (A) A SPORTS VENUE MAY REQUIRE THAT REUSABLE  BEVERAGE  CONTAINERS  BE
 EMPTY UPON ENTERING THE SPORTS VENUE;
   (B)  A  SPORTS  VENUE MAY REQUIRE THAT THE REUSABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER
 NOT CONTAIN A CAP; AND
   (C) A SPORTS VENUE MAY RESTRICT REUSABLE BEVERAGE  CONTAINERS  CAPABLE
 OF HOLDING MORE THAN TWENTY-FOUR FLUID OUNCES.
   3. ANY SPORTS VENUE THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION OR ANY RULE PROMULGATED
 PURSUANT  THERETO SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED FIVE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06229-01-5
              
             
                          
                 A. 2324                             2
 
 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION, AND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS
 FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law.
               
              
                
              
                       
              
Please support this bill! Many people want to do the right thing, bring their own container to get water, or buy hot or cold beverages at the event. We especially don't want to put hot beverages tea, coffee, cider, etc in plastic lined paper cups to have a microplastic broth!
I'm hopeful that my representatives will even support a requirement for all restaurants, cafes, sporting venues any place selling beverages, being required to CHARGE a minimum of say 25¢ for each disposable cup or container for beverage or food. Just like with banning plastic bags, there was a lot of fear-mongering, but the world didn't end. Shifting the culture to people not expecting to get their own bag, or cup, or dinner take out container for free would push millions of people daily to bring their own. BYOCup, Mug, Container... For the people who already do this, we need support from politicians! It's time for a shift of culture to being less disposable!