Bill Text: NY A03704 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to alcohol in certain motion picture theatres; authorizes a person holding a retail on-premises license for a movie theatre to allow the purchase of alcoholic beverages under certain circumstances.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to economic development [A03704 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A03704-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          3704

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    February 7, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  O'DONNELL  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Economic Development

        AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to alco-
          hol in certain motion picture theatres, and providing for the  expira-
          tion and repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Section 106  of  the  alcoholic  beverage  control  law  is
     2  amended by adding a new subdivision 16 to read as follows:
     3    16. A person holding a retail on-premises license for a movie theatre,
     4  other  than  a license for a movie theatre that meets the definitions of
     5  restaurant and meals, and where all seating is at tables where meals are
     6  served, shall:
     7    (a) for every purchase of an alcoholic beverage, require the purchaser
     8  to provide written evidence of age as set  forth  in  paragraph  (b)  of
     9  subdivision two of section sixty-five-b of this chapter; and
    10    (b) allow the purchase of only one alcoholic beverage per transaction;
    11  and
    12    (c)  not commence the sale of alcoholic beverages until one hour prior
    13  to the start of the first motion picture, and cease all sales  of  alco-
    14  holic beverages after the conclusion of the final motion picture.
    15    §  2.  Subdivision 6 of section 64-a of the alcoholic beverage control
    16  law, as amended by chapter 475 of the laws of 2011, is amended  to  read
    17  as follows:
    18    6. No special on-premises license shall be granted except for premises
    19  in  which the principal business shall be (a) the sale of food or bever-
    20  ages at retail for consumption on the premises or (b) the operation of a
    21  legitimate theatre, including a motion picture theatre that is a  build-
    22  ing  or facility which is regularly used and kept open primarily for the
    23  exhibition of motion pictures for at least five  out  of  seven  days  a
    24  week,  or  on  a  regular  seasonal basis of no less than six contiguous

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07692-01-3
        A. 3704                             2

     1  weeks, to the general public where all auditorium seating is permanently
     2  affixed to the floor and at  least  sixty-five  percent  of  the  motion
     3  picture theatre's annual gross revenues is the combined result of admis-
     4  sion revenue for the showing of motion pictures and the sale of food and
     5  non-alcoholic  beverages,  or  such  other lawful adult entertainment or
     6  recreational facility as the liquor authority, giving due regard to  the
     7  convenience  of  the public and the strict avoidance of sales prohibited
     8  by this chapter, shall by regulation classify for eligibility.  [Nothing
     9  contained  in this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize the issuance
    10  of a license to a motion picture theatre, except those meeting the defi-
    11  nition of restaurant and meals, and where all seating is at tables where
    12  meals are served.]
    13    § 3. Subdivision 8 of section 64-a of the alcoholic  beverage  control
    14  law,  as added by chapter 531 of the laws of 1964, is amended to read as
    15  follows:
    16    8. Every special on-premises licensee shall regularly keep food avail-
    17  able for sale to its customers for  consumption  on  the  premises.  The
    18  availability  of  sandwiches, soups or other foods, whether fresh, proc-
    19  essed, pre-cooked or  frozen,  shall  be  deemed  compliance  with  this
    20  requirement.    For motion picture theatres licensed under paragraph (b)
    21  of subdivision six of this section, food that is typically  found  in  a
    22  motion  picture  theatre,  including but not limited to: popcorn, candy,
    23  and light snacks, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this require-
    24  ment. The licensed premises shall comply at all times with all the regu-
    25  lations of the local department of health.  Nothing  contained  in  this
    26  subdivision,  however,  shall  be  construed to require that any food be
    27  sold or purchased with any liquor, nor shall  any  rule,  regulation  or
    28  standard  be  promulgated or enforced requiring that the sale of food be
    29  substantial or that the receipts of the business  other  than  from  the
    30  sale  of  liquor  equal  any set percentage of total receipts from sales
    31  made therein.
    32    § 4. Subdivision 9 of section 64-a of the alcoholic  beverage  control
    33  law,  as added by chapter 531 of the laws of 1964, is amended to read as
    34  follows:
    35    9.  In the case of a motion picture theatre  applying  for  a  license
    36  under  this  section,  any  municipality  required  to be notified under
    37  section one hundred ten-b of this chapter may express  an  opinion  with
    38  respect  to whether the application should be approved, and such opinion
    39  may be considered in determining whether good cause exists to  deny  any
    40  such application.
    41    10.  The liquor authority may make such rules as it deems necessary to
    42  carry out the provisions of this section.
    43    § 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
    44  deemed repealed 3 years after such date.