BILL NUMBER: S368
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to the
sale of tonic water, bitters, maraschino cherries, and dealcoholized
wine at liquor stores
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would allow liquor stores to carry and sell tonic water,
bitters and maraschino cherries, and it would allow liquor wholesalers
to carry these products on their trucks.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 104 of the alcohol-
ic beverage control law is amended to specify that liquor wholesalers
are not prohibited from transporting or selling tonic water, bitters,
and maraschino cherries.
Section 2: Subdivision 4 of section 63 of the alcoholic beverage control
law is amended to include tonic water, bitters, and maraschino cherries
among the products liquor stores are allowed to sell.
Section 3: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, tonic water, bitters, and maraschino cherries are primarily
associated with the preparation of alcoholic beverages. However, unlike
in many other states, these products cannot be legally sold in liquor
stores within New York State. Allowing the sale of tonic water, bitters,
and maraschino cherries in liquor stores represents a straightforward,
consumer-oriented reform that is long overdue.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2022: S8944, Advanced to Third Reading
2023: S3568A, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2024: S3568A, Advanced to Third Reading
Assembly
2022: A10269, Referred to Economic Development
2023: No Assembly Same-As
2024: No Assembly Same-As
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.

Statutes affected:
S368: 63 alcoholic beverage control law, 63(4) alcoholic beverage control law