New York City Liquor License Attorney

Get help from a lawyer who understands New York City liquor licensing laws

When you want to open a tavern, nightclub, cabaret or any venue that serves or sells alcohol in New York City, you can easily get tangled up in the complex web of laws and regulations. To obtain a New York City liquor license, you need knowledgeable guidance from a liquor licensing lawyer in New York who understands the system and can help you through the process from start to finish. At The Law Office of Stacy L. Weiss, PLLC, we have extensive experience in liquor licensing and alcoholic beverage control law for all counties in New York State.

Giving you the advantage of Attorney Certification

When you are our client, you get the advantage of Attorney Certification. We self-certify applications for liquor licenses, meaning the application approval process is expedited by the New York State Liquor Authority (NYSLA). Licensing can take several months, but with our Attorney Certification, we can reduce this time by several weeks.

Types of liquor licenses

There are two basic categories of New York City liquor licenses. The first is an on-premises (OP) license, which allows for the on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages as follows:

OP — Full liquor license for all types of alcoholic beverages; also permits the sale of beer for off-premises consumption
HL — Hotel license for all types of alcoholic beverages
CL — Club license for all types of alcoholic beverages
RW — Restaurant wine license for wine and beer
EB — Eating place beer license for beer

The second type of license is an off-premises license, which allows for the off-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages as follows:

L — Liquor store license permitting sale of liquor and wine
A/DS — Grocery store or drug store license permitting sale of beer
AX/DX — Grocery store or drug store license permitting sale of beer and wine coolers

Retail liquor license requirements

In New York State, the minimum requirements for a retail liquor license applicant are:

U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien status
Age 21 or older
No felony convictions
Not a police officer with arresting powers

Applications may be denied based on location. Your establishment cannot be within 200 feet of a church, school, synagogue or any other place of worship. Other reasons for denial include:

Failure to disclose residential past
Failure to disclose criminal past
Failure to disclose source of funds
Incomplete or missing information

After you have been issued your license, it is important to strictly obey the rules of the New York State Liquor Authority. Failure to adhere to their guidelines can lead to citations and possible revocation of your liquor license.

If you need a New York City liquor license attorney, call The Law Office of Stacy L. Weiss, PLLC

At The Law Office of Stacy L. Weiss, PLLC, we fully explain the process of liquor license acquisition for your business and ensure that it goes smoothly. Call us today at 212.521.0828 or contact us online to arrange for a free initial consultation at our Manhattan location. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and evenings by appointment.