Alcoholic Beverages Law Blog

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