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July 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin
New York bars and restaurants can no longer serve customers alcohol if they don’t purchase food, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.
The new rule was one of multiple Cuomo introduced yesterday that aim to crack down on bars and restaurants where social distancing violations have been common.
Another new rule is that walk-up bar service is not longer permitted. Establishments must have seats at every table or bartop to prevent patrons from standing around and lingering with less than six feet between them, he said.
The governor said that when outdoor dining reopened in New York City on June 22, it was meant to be for sit-down dining only. Open air bars was not part of that plan.
“If you’re not eating a meal and you’re just drinking, then it’s just an outdoor bar and people are mingling and they’re not isolated,” Cuomo said. “And that’s what we’re seeing.”
Outdoor dining at a seated table limits people’s exposure to just those within their party, he added.
Cuomo also announced a ‘Three Strikes and You’re Closed’ initiative in which any establishment that receives three violations will be closed down. The initiative is specific only to New York City, where Cuomo said compliance to coronavirus prevention rules has been low.
“The State itself has looked at over 5,000 establishments in downstate New York and found many cases of a failure to comply,” he said. “It’s wrong. It’s dangerous. It’s selfish. It’s unacceptable.”
The State Liquor Authority (SLA), as well as local governments, will enforce the requirements, which go into effect Friday. The SLA will also post establishments in violation online for the public to see.
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27 Comments
The governor wouldnât have to make these tough decisions if we didnât have an incredibly incompetent president in office whose negligence and inaction allowed the virus into the country. Vote Blue!!!
Have there been a rash of arrests for public drunkenness? No. Ruling will devastate our bars which do not sell food.
Bars would need to apply for food license which is time consuming and expensive. Cuomo made change due to complaints from the liquor lobby.
Stores are selling more wine and liquor, not less. Pay to play in Albany.
We can’t let Cuomo get re-elected to another term. I don’t care if you vote for his primary challenger or Republican opponent, we need to vote him out.
Reggie -What you donât like competence in a politician? Over twenty million Americans unemployed, weak US Dollar, Treasury note sales plummeting and slumping oil industry. Riots in the streets, over twenty million Americans unemployed. Substandard response to worldwide pandemic. Countries wonât even let Americans visit. Trump has turned us into Venezuela. Please keep your uninformed political opinions to yourself.
Are you kidding? Cuomo has been outstanding, especially during the pandemic.
Bar owner owners could get some tips from oregon strip clubs. they’re required to serve food and there’s more strip clubs per capita than anywhere else…
@dumpdeblasio: I’m sure youÂŽd be a much better govenor and would make much wiser decisions if youÂŽd be responsible for millions of lives…
What a stupid policy and double standard.
Hashtagger- Under current law, only establishments that serve food are permitted to serve alcohol. http://www.sla.ny.gov. If you donât like the laws change them. Sitting here constantly posting on QP all day long changes nothing and sways nobody.,
So why do you do it? I see your name here more than anyone else.
Politically operate much?
So why do you do it? You’ve posted 3 times on this thread. Who are you “swaying”?
The name Mac has been hijacked. Read the posts.,
King Coumo dictates what needs to be done. He’s responsible for the death of thousands by his executive order dumped COVID positives elderly back into nursing homes basically sentencing them to death and now more businesses Will go bankrupt because of this measure.
Many alcoholics are using outdoor seating to hide their addiction to alcohol through encouraged public intoxication.
Wannbe Mussolini does not want this pandemic to end. He will cling to his emergency powers like Charlton Heston holding onto a rifle.
This may help business owners make more money off of drunk customers. There is no limit to the number of drinks one can order. Just order an appetizer or side dish for a table of 4 and drinks for everyone. Just leave out the dirty plates for when inspectors show up.
So people will just resort to smoking weed and standing around. Most of our city and state officials are just fine with that.
Hopefully a bag of chips or pretzels will count as food. I am sure they find a way around it. You can always serve cheap burgers anf hot dogs. Perhaps the food industry workers and patrons need to upload some dance videos or protest for anyone to care.
Don’t get caught eating a glizzy
Glizzy gobblers getting drunk
That can’t be good
Oh yes because kicking the bar owners is just a great idea !
Worst governor ever
Totally worth it ?
Where is jimmy van bramer while our neighborhood being destroyed ?
Itâs obvious this buffoon wants to destroy the bar and restaurant business
Some bars do not serve food
Many of them have gone to the expense of partitioning areas so people can drink and have brought back staff
Oh yeah shutting down the economy was sure the way to go
Waiting for Cuomo to yuck it up
On cnn with brother fredo Cuomo
Which bars? Please name them. Iâd like to not hang out 3am in Astoria getting drunk and listening to loud dance music.
I know at least one bar on Skillman that probably won’t follow these rules.
Follow the rules. Brik Astoria list their liquor license temporarily because they didnât.