WARWICK – Literally the last bill to pass before the final gavel in the State Legislature was Senator James Skoufis’ (D, Cornwall) that would allow direct-to-consumer shipping of spirits and ciders across New York.
Skoufis, local distillers and state industry officials were in Warwick on Wednesday to tout the legislation and urge the governor to sign it.
Teresa Casey, executive director of the New York State Distillers Guild said it would be beneficial for the industry as has been proven by earlier legislation for New York wineries.
“They saw that direct-to-consumer shipping has helped New York’s wineries grow without presenting any safety problems and they saw what worked for wine could and should work for spirits and cider,” she told a news conference in Warwick on Wednesday.
In a survey this year, 50 percent of Distillers Guild members said they were unsure if they could remain open through the end of 2025 if regulatory and economic conditions remained unchanged. They also said direct-to-consumer shipping was the single most important step New York could take to improve and support their business.
