Law Office of Shawn T May, PC

09/24/2025

The New York State Liquor Authority has approved the expansion of liquor store hours.

The new rules allow liquor stores to operate from 8 AM to Midnight on weekdays and 10 AM to 10 PM on Sundays, year-round.

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11/13/2024

Own a Corporation or LLC? You are required to file Beneficial Ownership Information with the U.S. Treasury by January:

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08/28/2023

https://agriculture.ny.gov/news/state-agriculture-commissioner-announces-usda-disaster-designation-new-york-assist-farms

Commissioner Ball announced that New York has received a Disaster Designation. Eligible farms may apply for federal loans.

04/12/2022

Guidance from the State Liquor Authority in regard to alcohol to go:

Retail licensees who are granted the privilege of selling wine and liquor for on premises consumption (“On Premises Licensees”) to also have the privilege to sell wine and liquor for take-out and delivery,

With respect to ABCL 106(2-a)(a)(i), which requires purchases of wine and/or liquor to be accompanied by a “substantial food item”:

• A substantial food item is defined as sandwiches, soups or other foods, whether fresh, processed, precooked or frozen. Other foods are foods which are similar in quality and substance to sandwiches and soups; for example, salads, wings, or hotdogs would be of that quality and substance; however, a bag of chips, bowl of nuts, or candy alone are not. Obvious efforts to circumvent the law, for
example an unreasonably small portion of soup, a serving of canned beans, a handful of lettuce, or charging a small extra fee for an alcoholic beverage in lieu of a food item not actually ordered or delivered will be treated as a violation of the law.

• A bottle is defined to mean the wine and/or liquor that the retailer purchases from a wholesaler in a bottle, box, can, or other similar container. Obvious efforts to circumvent the law, such as transferring the contents of a bottle of wine o liquor to a same or equivalent bottle, will be treated as a violation of the law.

12/14/2021

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions: Proof of Full Vaccination or Mask Requirement for Businesses and Venues

06/23/2021

Boo!

Licensees please be advised that with the ending of our state of emergency and the return to pre-pandemic guidelines, the temporary pandemic-related privileges for to-go and delivery of alcoholic beverages will end after June 24.

06/06/2021

UPDATE: To-Go & Delivery and Outdoor Dining Guidance have been EXTENDED to July 5, 2021

Guidance on To-Go & Delivery: https://on.ny.gov/3a93tpF

Guidance on Outdoor Dining:
https://on.ny.gov/3ts0twH

06/01/2021

The Midnight Indoor Dining Curfew for Bars and Restaurants has been lifted ⏰

View the Governor's statement on lifting the dining curfew: https://on.ny.gov/2TsM2fn

05/18/2021

The new CDC Guidelines for the fully vaccinated are creating some confusion. I hear a lot of "honor system" comments. For small businesses - it's not the honor system so give them a break:

Given that the CDC has advised that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to maintain social distance, businesses may eliminate the 6 feet of required social distancing, and therefore increase capacity, only if all patrons within the establishment -- or a separate designated part of the establishment -- present proof of full vaccination status.

For areas where vaccination status of individuals is unknown and for patrons who do not present proof of full vaccination status, the required social distance of 6 feet still applies until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated. This change will apply across all commercial settings.

05/07/2021

UPDATE: To-Go & Delivery and Outdoor Dining Guidance have been EXTENDED to June 5, 2021

Guidance on To-Go & Delivery:
https://on.ny.gov/3a93tpF

Guidance on Outdoor Dining:
https://on.ny.gov/3ts0twH