The State Liquor Authority sent six men and women, ages 18 to 20, to over 200 New York City bodegas to attempt to buy booze—and, sure enough, at 123 locations, the underaged succeed. The Daily News has details on the three-day sting, "Of the bodegas visited by the SLA, the Bronx had the highest citation rate. Thirty-eight of the 48 stores - about 79% - sold alcohol to underage spies in the borough. Manhattan wasn't far behind with 75% of the bodegas selling to customers under the age of 21." more ›

A black market for homemade rice wine—those unmarked tubs of reddish liquid stacked up in the corner of your favorite dumpling shop?— is thriving in the depths of Chinatown, and authorities aren't quite sure what to do about it. more ›

Next month the community board that covers North Brooklyn is expected to vote on a moratorium on new liquor licenses in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Board chairman Christopher Olechowski tells the Wall Street Journal, "We feel that the community is over inundated with the bars and it's becoming not only a quality of life issue but it's a safety hazard. Too much of a good thing starts turning into something that turns counterproductive for a community. Where are we going with this?" Good question—we were thinking first The Diamond, then The Gutter, then maybe the late night happy hour at The Soft Spot, followed by Lucky Dog, and shots at The Woods? And guess what? The State Liquor Authority isn't going to stand in our staggering, loudmouthed way. more ›

Due to its recent prominence in college student hospitalizations, gay beatings in the Bronx, and confusing the daylights out of Chuck Schumer, the State Liquor Authority is trying to change New York law to ban caffeinated alcoholic drinks like Four Loko and Joose. William Crowley, spokesman for the Liquor Authority, told the Daily News, "The problem is, as it's written, the statute doesn't give us the power to ban these products." more ›

A new law going in effect today could spare bar and restaurant owners from fees given for serving minors if employees take classes on identifying fake IDs (last month, a 17-year-old girl accidentally fell to her death from a building's ledge, not too long after partying with a fake Brazilian ID). Businesses can get a 25% discount off the fines if all the employees pass the class from the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association. However, executive director Scott Wexler just rendered all those classes useless by giving away this tip for free: "If you bend a license, and if it's valid, it will not crease. In a simple 30 to 45 seconds, bar staff can identify if they are serving underage drinkers." more ›

After reports that a bouncer was arrested for raping an intoxicated customer in one of its bathroom, the nighclub Duvet, aka Club Climax, on West 21st Street off Broadway was shut down. According to the Post, the State Liquor Authority made the decision because, per sources, the club never should have hired the suspect, Hunter Dupree, who is an ex-con. The Post adds that the club "had been hit with numerous SLA violations but stayed open through a quirk in state law -- even after its liquor license was not renewed in November 2004" and that "Cops were summoned to the club 42 times in the past two years, including a Jan. 21, 2009, incident in which a female patron reported being robbed at gunpoint." Back in 2007, a man was stabbed to death outside the club. more ›

Fear not people who like to drink until 8 am — the state has extended the deadline for bars looking to push back the last call on New Year's Eve. After only 165 bars applied for the special "night permit" that allows them to keep serving booze for four additional hours after last call on New Year's — a 60 percent drop from last year — the State Liquor Authority extended the deadline for the second year in a row. Bars looking to obtain the permit have until next Monday, the New York Times reports. Nightlife insiders initially said the low number of applicants was due to the poor economy and the early deadline. more ›

New Year's Eve celebrations might turn out ending a little earlier this year, because the number of New York area bars that have applied for a special permit allowing them to keep serving booze until 8 am has plummeted by 60 percent. According to the Post, the number of "night permits" that extend the last call by four hours fell from 388 watering holes in New York City, Long Island and Westchester last year to just 165 this year. more ›

Despite a backlog of 3,000 liquor-license applications, the State Liquor Authority has taken the time to come down heavy on the fratastic sport of beer pong. In 2008, the World Beer Pong Tour had asked the SLA to clarify its stance on its events, and the response was typical for those bribe-taking apparatchiks at the Authority: Beer pong is forbidden because state law "prohibits the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in a manner which does not foster and promote temperance in the consumption." Dude, whoever wrote that sounds like uptight Frank the Tank before finally hitting the beer bong. more ›

After a two year study, a commission evaluating the State Liquor Authority has concluded that the SLA is highly dysfunctional. It's no shocker; the SLA has been mired in scandal forever, with investigations into alleged bribery and questionable favors doled out by the Governor to the top commissioners. In May, SLA chairman Daniel Boyle was ousted, weeks after the SLA Harlem office was raided by investigators on orders from the state Inspector General. more ›

Hey, if the State Inspector General said that you're "ill-suited," "immature," and "irresponsible" while working for the governor, you'd think your chances for another state job are screwed. Lucky for Khari Edwards—who was fired and blasted for his improper conduct with the State Liquor Authority in this mess—Albany is like bizarro world! The State Senate Democrats have hired him to a $75,204/year job as special assistant to Democratic conference leader John Sampson, in spite of the Inspector General's assessment from the SLA probe, "The Inspector General finds that Edwards is ill-suited to serve as a representative of the Governor's office, and recommends that his employment be terminated," pointing out that he lied under oath and "devoid of any appreciation of the seriousness of the Inspector General's proceedings." This new $75K gig also pays $5,000 more than his old one in the governor's office—it's so win-win! Sampson's spokeswoman told the Times Union, "Khari Edwards was hired on the merits. He has learned from experience, and will make the most of the opportunity to again serve the people of New York." more ›

Hobbled by a corruption investigation, the State Liquor Authority is taking longer than ever to issue liquor licenses, and restaurateurs and bar owners are paying a heavy price. It used to be common practice for diners to bring their own wine or beer while restaurateurs waited for the bureaucracy to finish its business, but in March the SLA warned license applicants they could be rejected if caught letting customers imbibe. Warren Pesetsky, a lawyer who represents many applicants and was the SLA's general counsel from 1976 to 1981, tells the Times, "They are taking longer than they ever have to approve new applications. When things were working at their best several years ago, it took three months." Employees at the SLA's Harlem office are under investigation by the state Inspector General for possibly taking bribes to expedite license applications. No one has been charged yet, but a lawyer for the state restaurant association thinks the investigation has a chilling effect on the 9 license examiners in Harlem: "Everyone there is afraid if they cough, they might get investigated." Meanwhile, new restaurants are having a hard time hanging on until the license is approved, which now takes over seven months in some cases. more ›

Records obtained by the NY Post confirm that many NYC nightclubs, bars, and restaurants have been doing what many of us long suspected: refilling top-shelf liquor bottles with cheaper alcohol and watering down drinks. It's unclear exactly which establishments have been committing the crime against sobriety, but Marquee paid a $100,000 settlement to the SLA in October; violations included allowing a "disorderly" climate that led to fights, unregistered security guards and "contaminated" bottles. SLA spokesman Michael Smith says, "We may find contaminated liquor or contaminated products, which may include refilling of liquor bottles with inferior liquor or fruit flies contaminating the bottle." According to Marquee, fruit flies were the problem, not well liquor in top-shelf bottles. Meanwhile, BLVD/Crash Mansion paid a total of $16,500 in fines to the SLA last year, but the club's owner says, "We paid $8,000 for a fruit fly" in a bottle of Jack Daniels. And in April, an anonymous bartender griped to the Feedbag about the DOH: "The obsession with fruit flies is a bit absurd. In the warm weather months they’re here and places do everything they can, but fruit flies will always be around." more ›

While no arrests have been made yet, more details have emerged on the Inspector General's Wednesday raid on the State Liquor Authority's Harlem office, where some two dozen employees control 65 percent of the state’s operating licenses and permits for bars, restaurants and liquor stores in NYC, Long Island and Westchester County. Police sources say employees would not only accept cash bribes in exchange for expedited license processing, but also bottles of booze, and gift cards for meals and clothes—some payoffs even included Applebee's gift cards. Stay classy, SLA. more ›

The party's over for employees at the State Liquor Authority office in Harlem. This morning investigators raided the office on orders from the state Inspector General. According to WCBS 880, all 24 employees at the licensing bureau were questioned about an alleged bribery scheme! Deputy Inspector General Kelly Donovan says, "We believe employees are fast-tracking liquor licenses in exchange for gratuities, at the expense of legitimate applicants." No arrests were made today, but the investigation has been ongoing for over a year, and was sparked by complaints that some liquor license applicants wait more than eight months while others get licenses in 11 days, thanks to good old Mr. Bribe. Besides handling license applications for NYC and Long Island, the Harlem office regulates 65% of roughly 70,000 operating licenses and permits statewide. And if true, this won't be the first whiff of SLA corruption; you'll recall that last winter an aide to Governor Paterson resigned amidst allegations that he successfully influenced two SLA commissioners to go easy on Cipriani. [Via Eater] more ›

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." more ›

Carl Andrews, former state senator from Brooklyn, has resigned from his $171,000-a-year job as aide to Governor Paterson in the midst of allegations that he illegally pressured the State Liquor Authority to renew liquor licenses for the Cipriani restaurants in Manhattan. After SLA Chairman Daniel Boyle (a Republican appointee) told the Post that Andrews tried to "intimidate" him into voting for the renewal, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launched a criminal investigation. more ›

As the New York State inspector general looks into allegations of intimidation leveled by State Liquor Authority chairman Daniel Boyle against Governor Paterson's office, sources in the SLA tell the Post that the two other SLA commissioners were given the use of cars as a perk for voting to renew liquor licenses for the embattled Cipriani restaurant empire. The investigation was launched after Boyle told the Post that Carl Andrews, an aide to Paterson, pressured him (unsuccessfully) to vote for Cipriani's license renewal. more ›

The head of the State Liquor Authority is telling the Post that an aide to Governor Paterson tried to intimidate him last summer into voting to renew liquor licenses for nine restaurants owned by the Ciprianis. You'll recall that the Cipriani empire—which includes the Rainbow Room—was jeopardized earlier this year when patriarch Arrigo Capriani and his son Giuseppe pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Felons are prohibited from holding liquor licenses in New York State, but the SLA voted 2-1 for renewal, with Chairman Daniel Boyle casting the lone dissent. Now he's come forward to say, "There's no question there was an attempt to intimidate me," made by Paterson's aide (and former state Senator) Carl Andrews, who allegedly told Boyle, "People here [in the Governor's office] are who you answer to." more ›

They may have mob ties and a history of tax evasion, but the Ciprianis have been allowed to hold onto their liquor license after the omnipotent State Liquor Authority accepted a settlement offer from the family, who operate luxurious restaurants and catering halls in Manhattan. One of Cipriani's owners, Arrigo Cipriani, previously pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion charges, and state law prohibits convicted felons from obtaining liquor licenses. more ›

Wonder what a police raid on a Hamptons gallery that's serving-alcohol- at-a-party- without-a-license looks like? Plum TV was there for the spectacle that landed gallery owner Ruth Vered on the cover of the Daily News and Post. more ›

Thank goodness for alcohol crackdowns in the Hamptons, or else the Post and Daily News wouldn't have covers today! East Hampton gallery owner Ruth Vered (of the Vered Gallery) is featured on the front pages of both tabloids being hauled away by the police for serving alcoholic drinks without a license on Saturday night. more ›

With his strip club in dire straits amidst allegations of on-site prostitution, Scores West owner Elliot Osher is defending his business with tortured analogies to the Clinton era. Ranting to the Daily News, Osher called the State Liquor Authority's decision to revoke his liquor license "politically motivated and ridiculous,” and went on to point out that President Bill Clinton received oral sex in the Oval Office "and they didn't close the White House." more ›

You'll only be getting babes, not booze, when you go to Scores West: The State Liquor Authority has taken away the strip club's liquor license after police found prostitution at the Chelsea joint (the Upper East Side location is not affected). An SLA administrative judge wrote that prostitution was "open and notorious such that the licensee knew or should have known of its occurrence." more ›

When The Villager broke the news that fancy East Village cocktail lounge Death & Co. would be temporarily shut down by the State Liquor Authority, no one was as publicly dismayed as Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni. In a blog homage to the elegantly dark nightspot, Bruni gushed:There’s a drink on Death & Co.’s latest cocktail menu with bourbon and rye, along with Courvoisier and bitters. I may in fact have had it – or... more ›

On the Gothamist Newsmap: A large fight/stabbing at Church and Remsen in Brooklyn, a stabbing on 5th Ave. in Manhattan, and a home invasion robbery on Cruger Ave. in the Bronx. An early morning fire damaged four businesses in Inwood; the FDNY is investigating, but the fire may have started in a business that's been closed for months. Senator Schumer releases a statement about his support for Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey (the senior... more ›

Restaurants owned by the Cirpiani family, including the Rainbow Room, may lose their liquor licenses. Earlier this month, patriarch Arrigo Capriani and his son, Giuseppe Cipriani, who is the CEO of Cipriani U.S.A. Inc., pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges. They agreed to pay a $10 million settlement, but now that they are convicted felons, the State Liquor Authority can strip their company of its liquor licenses. more ›