Bloomberg to Reform Cabaret Laws?

Could Bloomberg’s nanny state be loosening up? The Daily News has it that the mayor is considering relaxing the city’s Prohibition-era “Cabaret laws,” which make it illegal for three or more people to dance in a bar or restaurant unless the owner gets a costly and difficult-to-obtain permit. "We either want to eliminate the license or establish a different license so that it would be less onerous for people to engage in dancing," says an anonymous source in the Mayor's office.

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By John Del Signore in News on July 14, 2008 9:45 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

License the dancers, not the club.

TKaisen

I would expect Bloomberg to institute a strict three-drink maximum, exactly 352 calories per appetizer, a draft beer to be defined as 8 ounces, mixed drink to be limited to 1.2 ounces of liquor, and a tax of $15/drink.

Guest

Hey Snoopy, what if I wanted to pogo or join a mosh pit? They're both a form of dancing, but I doubt they'd be playing the right type of music a disco for it. Plus, who calls them discos anymore?

spnder

Bloomerberg talked about doing this a while ago. Sure, he's do away with the current laws but impose far stricter limts on bars in general... I'll believe it whan I see it.

spiritross

The thing is it wasn't until Giuliani came into power that the license was difficult to obtain

In 1960 in Manhattan there was over 4000 Cabaret license

By 2000 there was less than 100