On August 22, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Assembly Bill A7040-B, creating a new liquor license category for for-profit membership clubs. The law, which takes effect on February 18, 2026, represents a long-awaited update to New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. Historically, only not-for-profit clubs—such as fraternal organizations or benevolent associations—could obtain a club license […]
Recently the State Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) notified 152 cannabis dispensaries and applicants that the location of their businesses were too close to a school or house of worship to qualify for a license. New York Cannabis Law §72(6) provides, “No cannabis retail licensee shall locate a storefront within five hundred feet of a school grounds as such […]
There seems to be a great deal of confusion surrounding the concept of wine products. In New York, “wine product” is a term of art that must be distinguished from “Wine”, “low alcohol wine”, and “wine specialty items.” Pursuant to §3 (36) of New York’s ABC Law, “Wine” means the product of the normal alcoholic […]
TTB Registration Ever retail licensee has an obligation to register with the TTB by filing form TTB 5630.5d (Alcohol Dealer Registration. The form is supposed to be filed before engaging in business and a new form is to be filed for each location. The registration information is to be updated before July 1st of each […]
§401 (2) of the New York State Administrative Procedures Act (“SAPA) provides: When a licensee has made timely and sufficient application for the renewal of a license or a new license with reference to any activity of a continuing nature, the existing license does not expire until the application has been finally determined by the […]
As of April 2, 2025 the Liquor Authority will accept DOT issued conditional approval as proof of written authorization from a responsible municipal regulatory body or agency authorizing the use of municipal public space. This means that a licensee may now use the DOT conditional approval to apply to the SLA for permission to alter […]
All licensees should understand and avoid the most common violations for which the Liquor Authority brings charges. Sales to Minors. One of the most common violations and the one the SLA takes most seriously is sales to minors. It is illegal to sell or give alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of twenty- […]
Recently the TTB has been examining its regulations and making adjustments. There is an extensive process which the TTB must follow before it can change a regulation, which includes publishing the proposed rule and allowing the public to comment. STANDARDS OF FILL Effective January 10, 2025, the TTB amended its regulations related to standards of […]
Under §101 of New York State’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, suppliers and wholesalers (“Industry Members”) are forbidden to “Make any gift or render any service of any kind whatsoever, directly or indirectly, to any person licensed under [the alcoholic beverage control law] which in the judgment of the liquor authority may tend to influence such licensee to purchase the […]