Stacy L. Weiss Law Blog

Operating under Alcohol Beverage Control Law (ABCL), the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) requires anyone selling liquor in New York to have a liquor license.

Types of licenses

There are many different types of liquor licenses, but they all basically fall into two main license categories-licenses for wholesalers and licenses for retailers.  Wholesale... Read More

A New York liquor licensing lawyer can provide answers to questions that people have when applying for liquor licenses, such as:

What is a temporary permit for liquor sales?

While waiting for New York liquor license approval, applicants may also apply for a temporary permit to sell liquor.  To qualify, the individual must file... Read More

The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) regulates liquor licensing in New York City and throughout New York State.  The Renewal Unit, which is located within the SLA Albany Office, handles all renewals for New York State liquor licenses.

Changes in the renewal process

As of May 1, 2011, the SLA... Read More

In addition to completing a lengthy and complex application and supporting documents, a business owner seeking a liquor license must provide advanced notice to the municipality or local community board where their establishment is situated and conspicuously post a notice of the application on the premises.  This gives the public and municipality a chance to object to the license or offer relevant information... Read More

Serving or selling alcoholic beverages can be a lucrative business venture.  Unfortunately, because of the issues often associated with this type of business, the New York State Liquor Authority aggressively regulates the manufacture, wholesaling, and retailing of alcoholic beverages within the state.  Manufacturing or selling alcohol without the proper license is a misdemeanor criminal offense carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail.  New York... Read More

The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) within the New York State Liquor Authority regulates retailers and wholesalers of alcoholic beverages throughout the state.  As part of that regulation, ABC requires all sellers of alcoholic beverages to obtain and maintain a license. 

The different types of liquor licenses depend on the type of alcohol served, the type of establishment, and whether customers consume alcohol purchased on or off the premises of the... Read More

1. How old must a person be to serve alcoholic beverages as a bartender or a waitress/waiter, etc.?

a. A person must be at least 18 years of age to be employed in a retail premises "as a hostess, waitress, waiter or any other capacity where the duties of such person require or permit such person to sell, dispense or handle alcoholic beverages." (Section 100.2-a - ABC Law)

2. How old... Read More

THE 500 FOOT RULE

Ordinarily, an application for an on-premises liquor license must be approved unless the Authority finds there is good cause not to issue the license. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, however, contains restrictions on the approval of certain on-premises liquor licenses if the location is within a 500 foot radius of certain other establishments with on-premises liquor licenses. The restrictions apply only in cities, towns or villages with a... Read More

THE 200 FOOT RULE

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits certain licenses from being issued if the location of the establishment is on the same street and within 200 feet of a building that is used exclusively as a school, church, synagogue or other place of worship. This restriction is commonly called the 200 foot rule and applies to any retail establishment where liquor... Read More

The Law Office of Stacy L. Weiss is a Manhattan-based law firm with special expertise in the unique areas of New York state liquor licensing the laws pertaining to the alcoholic beverage commission in New York City. Below, the New York City attorney provides answers to frequently asked questions about Alcoholic... Read More