New York would expand access to alcohol by allowing movie theaters to sell liquor and continuing to allow people to buy takeout cocktails from bars and restaurants under a series of measures unveiled Thursday.
The state Assembly on Thursday approved the measures that are part of a broader state budget deal. The State Senate is expected to follow up on the decision before sending it to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk for signature. The agreement was reached between Hochul and state Senate and Assembly leaders after a series of closed-door talks.
According to the New York State Liquor Authority, New York movie theaters can only sell beer and wine, but this new legislation would add liquor to the mix.
“Someone should be able to enjoy a cocktail while watching a movie,” said state Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat who chairs a legislative committee where state alcohol laws pass.
The measure includes adding guardrails in an effort to maintain a family-friendly environment in theaters that have licenses to sell alcohol. People could only buy one alcoholic drink per transaction and theaters would have to stop selling alcohol once the credits start rolling for the last screening of the day.
New Yorkers will also be allowed to purchase take-out cocktails at restaurants and bars for the next five years under another measure in the state budget. The rule was set to expire next year after the state temporarily allowed the sale of takeout alcoholic beverages during the pandemic.
Skoufis, who supports keeping that measure permanent, said it “provides some short-term certainty to restaurants and businesses that do so.”
Lawmakers in Albany voted Thursday to again push back the state budget deadline, though they are expected to vote on the budget package later in the week. Hochul announced the $237 billion budget framework on Monday, about two weeks after the original April 1 deadline.