Local Bars Find Loophole For New Food Law

Many bars around town have been finding ways around Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new restriction on alcohol sales.

The new ordinance says that any patron who wants to buy alcohol must also purchase food as well. The endgame for this new rule is to discourage bars from using outdoor seating as places to party, which increases the chance of spreading the coronavirus.

“The law never allowed outdoor bars,” Cuomo said Friday. “They took the outdoor dining provision and the additional space and turned into outdoor bars.”

The new ordinance has a sliding scale: each restaurant has to serve the food which it normally does. A tavern would have to serve sandwiches or soups, but a winery or brewery can get away with serving cheese and crackers.

In response, breweries like Irondequoit Beer Company have began offering their patrons the “Cuomo Cheese Plate” for $1. When you purchase a beer, it comes with cheese cubes and crackers in a french fry boat. In Saratoga, Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar has $1 “Cuomo Chips” for sale as well.

Source:
Democrat & Chronicle