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Read. Follow. Verify.New York bill revises alcoholic beverage licensing, expanding permitted retail items, operating hours, and ownership rules
Last action · September 18, 2026: PRINT NUMBER 4575ASponsors: James Skoufis and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
The New York legislature is considering comprehensive revisions to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law that would allow liquor stores and beer wholesalers to sell additional items such as tonic water and maraschino cherries, increase caps from one to two, permit special hours on New Year's Day, and modify proximity restrictions related to schools and churches.
The measure alters commercial rules for alcoholic beverage manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers across the state, affecting inventory options, operating hours, business ownership transfers, and licensing proximity limits for establishments near places of worship or schools.
- The New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law governs the licensing, manufacturing, distribution, and retail sale of alcoholic beverages throughout the state. context
- The State Liquor Authority is the executive agency charged with enforcing the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and issuing operating permits. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Retail Licensees
Retail licensees gain the ability to hold up to two off-premises licenses, sell an expanded list of auxiliary items, and utilize new waiver provisions near schools or places of worship.
Wholesalers and Manufacturers
Wholesalers are permitted to transport and sell additional non-alcoholic products such as tonic water and bitters on licensed premises.
State Liquor Authority
The authority must evaluate license applications under a 'good cause' standard rather than 'public convenience and advantage' and process ownership changes within a ninety-day review window.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes are proposed for liquor stores regarding what they can sell?
Can a bar or restaurant operate past regular hours on New Year's Day?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Sep 18, 2026SenatePRINT NUMBER 4575A
- Sep 18, 2026SenateCommitteeAMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
- Jan 7, 2026SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
- Feb 7, 2025SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift from Public Convenience Standard to Good Cause Disapproval
Part F alters the legal standard for liquor license determinations from 'public convenience and advantage' to requiring good cause shown for disapproval.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.nysenate.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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