BILL NUMBER: S348
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to
ending the local option of towns and cities to prohibit the sale of
alcohol; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would eliminate all current - and prohibit any future - dry
communities in New York State.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the alcoholic beverage control law by adding a new
section 132, which makes the sale of alcohol lawful in any municipality
that had previously prohibited its sale. Precludes municipalities from
enacting any future prohibition on the sale of alcohol.
Section 2: Repeals article nine (local option) of the alcoholic beverage
control law.
Section 3: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Despite being an antiquated relic of the temperance movement, a handful
of dry municipalities still exist in NYS, where an individual of lawful
age and sound mind cannot purchase an alcoholic beverage. In modern
society, the sale and consumption of alcohol is an extremely tightly
regulated industry. Many local, state, and federal health, safety, and
economic protections exist to ensure that alcohol is sold and consumed
as responsibly as possible. Dry communities can also force residents and
visitors to travel greater distances to enjoy libations, leading to
public safety hazards. This bill would broaden consumer choice, spur new
business, and integrate outlier municipalities with the rest of the
state in relation to the permitted sale of alcohol.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2022: S8966, Advanced to Third Reading
2023: S3484, Advanced to Third Reading
2024: S3484, Advanced to Third Reading
Assembly
2022: A10376, Referred to Economic Development
2023: N/A
2024: A9071, Referred to Economic Development
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.