GOSHEN – New legislation allowing restaurant owners and bar operators the chance to purchase directly from a community liquor store as opposed to buying in bulk from major distributors as before is cause for celebration, according to state officials and owners of those watering holes in Orange County.
State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall), who sponsored the law that takes effect March 5th, said on-premise establishments like restaurants, bars or taverns can now purchase up to six bottles of wine or liquor on a regular basis from a local store without having to pay higher prices and additional delivery charges normally associated with distributors or major wholesalers.
The new law replaces legislation dating back to the days of Prohibition and with St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, Skoufis said it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. Before, if an establishment ran out of a particular item, patrons would be out of luck. But not anymore.
“For smaller establishments, this new law will save them thousands and thousands of dollars in a given year,” Skoufis said. “This is a pro-small business law that I was happy to champion and sponsor.”
Joining Skoufis at a news conference Thursday was Town of Goshen Supervisor Joseph Betro, Tommy O’Toole, president of the Orange County Tavern & Restaurant Association, and Brian Butler, owner of the Golden Rail Ale House in Newburgh.
Betro, who is also owner of Delancey’s Restaurant in Goshen, said the new law is as common sense as it gets.
“This is common sense reform which gives restaurant owners limited flexibility to handle reductions to their inventory. A lot of restaurants are one floor, or two floors and don’t have enough capacity. This legislation gives each and everybody an equal playing field. It allows everybody to service their customers who are there and not have them go out the door to the next person.”
O’Toole and Butler collectively agreed on the new law’s importance to local businesses and that it has been several years in the making, going as far back as 2017. O’Toole said research has shown this law will translate to an estimated savings of between $3,000 – $4,000 a year to small business owners.
“This will also allow boutique brands to be carried by even the smallest of retailers,” Butler said. “End results of the legislation may not be noticed by those outside the industry, but this is the most beneficial change to New York’s alcoholic beverage control laws since 1934.”
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