Restaurants & Bars Serving ‘Cuomo Chips’ As Workaround Could Lose Their Liquor Licenses

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has updated the phase 4 policy that requires bars to only serve alcohol to patrons that are sitting down and ordering food.

Since the order, some bars have found a loophole where they would serve guests ‘Cuomo chips’ for $1.

The policy, enforced by the State Liquor Authority, originally stated that bars had to sell “sandwiches, soups or other foods, whether fresh, processed, precooked or frozen.” The ‘other foods’ part of the clause is where the loophole lies.

The update comes as an attached Q&A that specified what ‘other foods’ are.

The document reads:

“‘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 … As a restaurant and bar owner interested in continuing to assist in our shared public health goal, you should not be looking for ways to circumvent the dining or meal requirement nor the purpose behind it, as it jeopardizes the public health and the progress all New Yorkers have made.”

Going forward, if any establishment is found to be violating the order, the State Liquor Authority has enacted a “one strike and you’re out” policy where the bar would have their liquor license suspended temporarily.

Source:
Democrat & Chronicle