NEW YORK STATE — The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) recently highlighted a new law that allows bars, restaurants and other “on-premises” establishments to purchase limited quantities of wine or liquor per week from nearby off-premises retail licensees, such as liquor and wine stores. 

The law was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on December 5, 2025 and went into effect on March 5, 2026.

“When inventory runs low, this common-sense fix allows on-premises establishments to buy six bottles per week from a local liquor store and continue service,” SLA chair Lily Fan said. “New York’s restaurant, tavern and bar operators are our agency’s largest constituency. Collectively, they are the state’s largest number of small businesses and are the state’s largest employer. Their success is the state’s abundance.”

Bars and restaurants sometimes run out of a particular wine or spirit in the middle of a service. Previously, bars and restaurants were unable to immediately replenish those bottles beyond arranging for a delivery of the out-of-stock products from their wholesaler, leading to lost sales, the SLA said.

Under the new law, off-premises retail licensees are also limited to selling up to six bottles per week to bars and restaurants. Both on-premises and off-premises licensees must keep records of each transaction and make them available for inspection by the New York State Liquor Authority. Guidance for retailers is available on www.sla.ny.gov/advisory-2026-3-retail-retail-sales-wine-and-liquor-chapter-613-laws-2025.