Bill > A08205

This bill establishes a new "grocery store wine license" that allows qualifying grocery stores to sell wine produced in New York state or from New York-grown ingredients, but only in sealed containers for off-premise consumption. The license can be obtained by existing beer retailers and requires a one-time franchise fee of $10,000, with an annual license fee of 0.5% of wine sales. Licensees are permitted to conduct wine tastings under certain conditions, and the license runs concurrently with their existing beer sales license. The bill also modifies existing labor regulations to allow employees under 18 to handle and ring up wine sales under direct supervision, and updates purchasing regulations to accommodate the new license type. Grocery stores must apply through the state liquor authority and can only sell New York-produced wines, with the license being tied to their existing beer sales premises. This legislation appears aimed at supporting New York state wine producers by creating a new retail sales channel and making it easier for grocery stores to sell local wines.

Business and Industry

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8205