"Raise a glass, New York-literally anywhere from a board game café to a batting cage. The State Liquor Authority just rewrote its rulebook, opening the door for dozens of adult-oriented recreational businesses to snag liquor licenses. The policy, approved at a board meeting last week, takes effect immediately. That means comedy clubs , pool halls, axe-throwing spots, laser tag arenas, shuffleboard lounges, VR arcades and even climbing gyms can start applying for on-premises licenses. Mini-golf with margaritas? Pottery class with pinot? Suddenly possible."
"The shift is rooted in a long-overlooked clause from 1933's Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, which let the state license "lawful adult entertainment or recreational facilities." Until now, though, those approvals were mostly limited to restaurants and traditional bars. The new guidance expands eligibility in what industry leaders say is a long-overdue modernization."
""It will help these businesses grow by offering more products to their customers. And it recognizes the evolving nature of the hospitality industry rather than burdening modern businesses with rules written following the repeal of Prohibition nearly 100 years ago.""
The State Liquor Authority revised guidance to allow a wide range of adult-oriented recreational businesses to apply for on-premises liquor licenses immediately. Eligible venues include comedy clubs, pool halls, axe-throwing, laser tag, shuffleboard lounges, VR arcades, climbing gyms, mini-golf, batting cages, and similar social activity spaces. The change relies on a clause in the 1933 Alcoholic Beverage Control Law permitting licensure of "lawful adult entertainment or recreational facilities" and expands eligibility beyond traditional restaurants and bars. Industry groups praised the move as modernization that supports growth and innovation while emphasizing responsible oversight amid evolving hospitality trends.
Read at Time Out New York
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