Bill > A06931

This bill amends New York's alcoholic beverage control law to define and authorize the sale of ready-to-drink cocktails (RTD cocktails), which are pre-mixed alcoholic beverages containing liquor with added ingredients like juice or flavoring, and limited to 8.5% alcohol by volume in containers up to 16 ounces. The legislation allows retail licensees to sell RTD cocktails at retail for on-premises or off-premises consumption without paying additional fees, and expands existing regulations to include these beverages alongside beer, mead, braggot, and cider. The bill corrects previous unintentional limitations on sales by updating terminology and sales provisions across various sections of the alcoholic beverage control law. Specifically, it modifies rules around payment terms, default notices, and potential license suspensions to explicitly include RTD cocktails, ensuring that manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers have clear guidelines for selling and purchasing these new beverages. The act will take effect 90 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for regulatory agencies to prepare implementation rules.

Business and Industry

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6931