COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL LAWS
Protect New York’s Communities:
Keep New York’s Liquor Laws Strong
Keep New York’s Liquor Laws Strong
Defend Small Businesses AND Prevent Underage Drinking
Protect New York’s small independently-owned business, prevent underage drinking, and preserve state revenues. Weakening the state’s liquor laws benefits e-commerce giants and other multinational businesses while opening the door to incalculable social costs. We can’t let it happen.
Small Businesses in Peril
Local liquor stores and small businesses form the backbone of our communities. They provide jobs, contribute to the local economy, and ensure responsible alcohol sales through proper age verification and education about responsible drinking. Direct-to-consumer shipping will enable e-commerce giants to destroy another retail sector and shut down your local wine & spirits shop. By opposing direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping, you can stand in solidarity with the small businesses that make our communities thrive.
Preventing Underage Drinking
Unlike local liquor stores that are trained to prevent underage sales, law enforcement investigations across the country have shown that almost all direct alcohol shipments occur without checking ID. Weak age verification processes and the anonymity of online transactions make it alarmingly simple for minors to obtain alcohol. This not only threatens their health and safety but also undoes years of progress in combating underage drinking. We must ensure that alcohol remains out of the hands of those too young to consume it responsibly.
Strong Liquor Laws for a Strong New York
Protect New York’s small independently-owned business, prevent underage drinking, and preserve state revenues. It is time to take a stand against the risks posed by direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping. Together, we can advocate for stronger regulations, protect public health, support our local businesses, and keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.
The Wine & Spirits Community wORKS For New York’s Economy
Over 50,000 people throughout New York State work hard and make a living in the wine and spirits industry. This includes frontline wine and liquor store owners employing thousands, wholesalers, transportation and logistics experts and many workers in local wine and liquor stores.
There is a diverse community of neighbors and family-owned companies that safely deliver wine & spirits to New Yorkers every day. These essential businesses, as proven during the COVID crisis, provide significant economic and social benefits throughout the entire region, ensure product quality, and help maintain a legal environment for safe sale and consumption.
-
In New York, a community of over 50,000 people depend on the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of wine and spirits for their livelihood.
-
There are 3,375 active liquor store licensees in 62 counties throughout New York, including your favorite neighborhood shop.
-
Wine & Spirits distributors alone employ over 7,000 people throughout the state in a variety of meaningful jobs.
-
The wine & spirits industry accounted for about $4 billion in taxes paid to New York State, including business, personal, and excise taxes and other related payments.
Our Commitment
The Coalition for Responsible Alcohol Laws represents tens of thousands of hardworking New Yorkers throughout the alcohol supply chain - from wholesalers to distributors to community wine and spirits shops. We are the businesses on the front lines that check ID, prevent underage sales and pay state taxes. We protect the integrity of the supply chain against illegal and counterfeit product. We support the time-tested three-tier system that governs alcohol distribution and sale in New York and we are dedicated to the responsible shipment and sale.
We represent thousands of family-owned businesses and thousands of hardworking folks just like you who are dedicated to ensuring a healthier, safer future for all. By opposing direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping, we are fighting to keep our communities strong, keep our local economy thriving, and prevent underage drinking.
