BYO No! Restaurants to Get Schooled by SLA on the Rules

One of the best reasons to check out newly opened restaurants is that eateries still awaiting liquor license approval often let patrons bring their own bottles of wine and beer at no charge. But now here comes the State Liquor Authority to throw a wet blanket on the custom; SLA Commissioner Jeanique Greene (remember her?) says next week the agency will begin holding seminars for restaurant owners to remind them, among other things, that the practice is illegal. Unless a restaurant seats less than 20 diners, BYOB is prohibited, and Greene tells Crain's that if a new restaurant is applying for a liquor license, the owner is taking a big risk by letting diners drink: "We would look negatively at that." And Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association, reveals that the biggest whiners about BYOB restaurants are other restaurant owners with liquor licenses: "They feel it’s an unfair advantage or competition."

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By John Del Signore in Food on March 16, 2009 5:44 PM

Comments [rss]

Papercutninja

I don't understand why this is an issue...let's say i had a baby *shudder*, and i brought it to a restaurant. When the thing got hungry, and i pulled out a bottle would that be ok? Somehow only alcohol is restricted like this? Fucking puritans man...

Dirk

They feel it’s an unfair advantage or competition.

Then maybe the whiners(!) should become BYOB, too.

ironybubble

Like this is some ethics question? Oh please. It's about revenue and nothing more.

Pizza_Time

It is so great that we live in a "Free" country that litigates the fun out of everything.

Maybe next the douchetastic govt. will come up with a license that is required for people to chew their food in a restaurant.

ianmac47

Isn't it time we threw the Puritans out of office?

abcohen

dont worry the economy is in great shape - and restaurants arent seeing huge % off last year numbers as more people eat/cook at home...

wow!!! someone really needs to step up and instead of say crack down - how about say - ok! we're just increasing fee's for those that do allow it (and nothing crazy how about 10% more)

Louis de Bourbon

I ate recently at a new restaurant which, not yet having obtained its liquor license, informed us that we could either BYOB or, interestingly enough, they would give us wine on the house ("we can't sell it to you yet but we can give it away...") We were suitably byobless so we imbibed many (many) glasses of free wine. Is this also verboten according to the SLAC?

Grammarsquad: You should have written "Unless a restaurant seats FEWER than 20 diners..." For shame.