Gov. Hochul outlines plan to overhaul state liquor laws, including permanent to-go drinks
NEW YORK -- Gov. Kathy Hochul laid out her plans Wednesday to update New York State's liquor laws.
Her vision includes permanently legalizing to-go alcohol at bars and restaurants and streamlining the application process for liquor licenses and renewals by putting applications online.
The governor is also considering allowing drinks to be served at movie theaters.
"We've got a whole agenda. When people say, 'Well this one law to take a look', I said, 'This gives us the opportunity to reexamine our entire process,'" Hochul said Wednesday.
To-go drinks were temporarily allowed during the height of the pandemic to help business.
"New York's restaurant industry has been devastated by the pandemic. That's why smart policy like the temporary liquor license law is helping small businesses open much faster while creating new jobs, and why it's necessary to reinstate the popular drinks to go policy that provides struggling businesses an important revenue stream while giving New Yorkers what they want, which is wine and cocktails for takeout and delivery from their favorite restaurants and bars," NYC Hospitality Alliance Executive Director Andrew Rigie said in a statement.
While very popular, the governor's plan could face opposition from public safety advocates and liquor store owners, who say the move would place them in direct competition with bars and restaurants.