TOWN OF NEWBURGH – Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) joined with the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association and Orange County Tavern and Restaurant Association at The Golden Rail Ale House in Newburgh to announce the inclusion of reforms he has proposed to the state’s prohibition-era alcohol and beverage control laws. Chief among the changes would allow bars and restaurants to make purchases directly from liquor stores – rather than distributors – of up to 12 individual bottles per week.
Other Skoufis proposals that are in the Senate’s budget proposal include allowing cideries to ship directly to consumers, similar to the existing opportunity provided to wineries; permanently extending the soon-to-expire ability for establishments to receive temporary liquor permits while waiting for a full liquor license application to be approved; and providing additional funds to the State Liquor Authority to address the enormous backlog of 6,000 license applications.
“We should be doing anything and everything in our legislative capacity to ensure that small business owners get the support they need,” said Skoufis, “Restaurants and taverns are critical to our communities’ economic vitality and these important proposals allow business owners to serve their customers in a timely and cost-effective manner. I am grateful for the work of the state and county Restaurant and Tavern Associations and will continue to fight for their priorities.”
“The state’s small restaurants and taverns will be able to breathe a sigh of relief if the reforms to the Alcoholic Beverage Control championed by Senator Skoufis and the Senate Majority are part of the final enacted budget,” said Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association.
Skoufis is also seeking change to state liquor laws by supporting Governor Hochul’s “Cocktails-to-Go” proposal that would make the temporary allowance a permanent one. The current law expires in 2025. Skoufis also wants to give liquor stores permission to sell drink-related products such as tonic water, bitters, and cherries.
