Letter to SLA Chair as to why in late 2024, the SLA stopped providing Method of Operation information in its public on-line databases.
Document Category: State Liquor Authority (SLA)
3-13-2025 Full SLA Board Meeting
The full March 13, 2025 Board Meeting YouTube hearing and auto-generated tracscripts provides a window into the day-to-day operation of the State Liquor Authority.
March 1, 2024 New York Senate Standing Comittees on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions and Investigations & Government Operations
Public Hearing March 1, 2024: To examine the procedures and practices of the State Liquor Authority, assess recent changes to the Alcoholic Beverage & Control laws, and gather recommendations to improve the efficiency, responsiveness and transparency of the SLA to businesses across the state.
SLA Rule-Making by Advisories
In our view, the acceptable practice is for adminstrative agencies to make rules in the form of a rule making procedure with prior notice and for rules to be promulgated in a regular organized manner as the agencies rules and procedures. The SLA departs from this method and rather seems to make rules in the form of advisories which are irregularly indexed.
Community Board Stipulation in Eldridge Case
Stipulation of Community Board 3 as filed in the Eldridge Case.
Request to Change Method of Operation Form Revised January 2025
In 2025 the SLA modified its form to request a change in the Method of Operations required in allowing the SLA to approve dancing and live music in locations now available for dancing by the NYC zoning change, and seemingly approving surrendering its authority to Community Board stipulations and signalling approving conditions which violate the First Amendment as to Live Music.
Analysis of SLA License Database as of March 15, 2023 as updated.
SLA data shows that Live Music is explicitly or implicitly disallowed in over 9000 of the 11,000 NYC licenses; only 278 licenses allow patron dancing.
Amendments to State Liquor Authority Laws To Allow Filing of Notice When Filing Application
In 2024, the Alcohol and Beverage Control Law was amended to allow liquor license applicants to provide notice to community boards at the time application is filed with the SLA, easing burden on applicants.
Commission to Study Reform of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (ABC)
2023 Commission to Study Reform of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (ABC) – 30 Day Notice Amended
Recent Court Decisions Upholding Liquor Licenses – Senter and Eldridge
Recent Court Decisions Where SLA Defends Approval of Liquor License With Court Documents Files