Senate Bill S7909

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7909

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to off
premise retail license holders

 
PURPOSE:

To allow any person to hold up to two off-premises retail licenses.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends subdivision 5 of section 63 of the alcoholic beverage
control law would allow a holder of an off-premises retail license to be
granted one additional license to sell liquor/wine at retail for off-
premises consumption.

Section 2: Sets effective date.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

Current law, enacted in 1934 post-prohibition, allowed for only one
off-premise retail license to be granted to a person. There are no such
restrictions on any other license in the alcoholic beverage control law,
nor any such restriction anywhere in NY statute on any business. This
restriction only exists for wine and spirit retailers.  No restrictions
exist on how many licenses a person may be granted to serve alcohol at
bars or restaurants. Furthermore, even the State Cannabis Law allows a
person to be granted up to 3 retail dispensary licenses.

This nearly 100-year-old law is among the most antiquated in the country
and unnecessarily restrictive on small businesses and economic develop-
ment. This is why the 21-member Commission to Study Reform of the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Law, which was established through the FY 2023
State The budget included the recommendation to change the statute to
allow for more than one off-premise retail license to be granted to a
licensee.

This legislation embodies that recommendation put forward in the Commis-
sion's final report, voted on by representatives from across the indus-
try, including alcohol producers, wholesalers, on- and off-premises
retailers, policymakers, regulators, and representatives, a much-needed
change for a significant business sector in New York to survive and
thrive in the 21st Century.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.