Last updated on September 29th, 2020 at 11:12 pm
Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order announcing new food requirements accompanying the sale of alcohol, caused lots of confusion. Mainly, the Order wasn’t specific about what type of food was “substantial” to allow the sale of alcohol at NYC outdoor dining establishments. In order to help bar and restaurant owners navigate, the NY State Liquor Authority (NYSLA) issued updated guidance with a FAQ section.
In determining whether a certain type of food is “substantial food” , NYSLA urged restaurant and bar owners to consider the purpose of Cuomo’s policy which is “to ensure that patrons are enjoying a sit-down dining experience, and not a drinking or bar-type experience which often tends to be problematic from a public health perspective”.
Some examples of “substantial food” are sandwiches, soups, salads, wings or hot dogs. “A bag of chips bowl of nuts, or candy alone are not,” Access NYSLA’s full Guidance and Faq’s here.
