New York craft producers could get a boost from new legislation

ALBANY — New York craft producers of liquor, cider, mead, and braggot would be able to ship their products directly to customers, living in and out of the state, under a bill that still needs the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul. The New York State Assembly approved legislation on June 7, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo (D–Endwell) said in an announcement that same day. Lupardo sponsored the bill in the Assembly. The measure passed both the Assembly and the Senate during the legislative session that wrapped up on June 7. “New York State is home to so many great craft distilleries and cideries that will now be able to ship their products to customers here in New York and in other states,” Speaker Heastie said in the news release. “This will open up business to new markets, new customers and to those that wouldn’t have been able to purchase their beverages because they couldn’t get to the location.” By allowing the interstate and intrastate direct to consumer sale of liquor, cider, mead, and braggot, the bill would open new markets to New York’s alcohol producers, per Heastie’s office. Wineries and some breweries in New York state are permitted to sell direct to consumers, but other small alcohol producers are not. An executive order during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed these manufacturers to ship directly to consumers, which helped many distilleries and cideries stay in business, the lawmakers said, adding that they now need this measure to continue growing. “This legislation is important, not just for our micro-distilleries and cideries but for New York’s farmers who provide many of the raw ingredients. It also boosts tourism around the state with visitors traveling to these locations and returning home with their products,” Lupardo said in the Heastie release. “New York’s award winning craft beverages, while very popular, are not available in most New York State liquor stores.”