S.7546 (Wright) / A.11609 (Schimminger)

STAFF CONTACT :

518.465.7517

BILL

S.7546 (Wright) / A.11609 (Schimminger)

SUBJECT

Allows certain Drug Store employees to stock, handle and see alcoholic beverages

DATE

Support

The Business Council of New York State, Inc., whose membership includes over 3,600 companies and more than 100 chambers of commerce and professional trade associations, has reviewed the above mentioned legislation and strongly supports its enactment.

This legislation extends the current law which allows individuals under the age of 18 to handle alcoholic beverages if employed by a grocery store to also include employees of drug stores which hold a beer license. Currently, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law permits individuals who are employed by grocery stores and are under the age of 18 to stock, handle and sell alcoholic beverages. This legislation would bring parity to drug stores by allowing their employees to do the same.

The State Liquor Authority, after receiving inquiries concerning the legal age of employment of cashiers handling alcoholic beverages, sent a letter in April to all drug stores in the state notifying them that they had taken a closer examination of the statute and would be taking a strict interpretation of the law which did not include an exemption for drug store sales. The State Liquor Authority therefore, is strictly interpreting and thus enforcing the law. The State Liquor Authority, however, has indicated that if this legislation passed, they would have no concerns with drug stores operating under the same rules as grocery and convenience stores.

For these above reasons, The Business Council supports this legislation, and urges the legislature to pass this legislation.