New York Corks Food Festival Wine Sales Bill
by Lindsey A. Zahn on July 23, 2010
On Wednesday, New York’s Governor David Paterson vetoed a bill, previously created by the State’s legislature, that would have allowed New York wineries to sell their wine at food festivals without a fee. The Governor rejected the bill reasoning that its reference to “food festivals” was vague and not properly defined. In addition, Paterson argued that the bill excluded winery and vineyard owners from the permit fee, but still required others (such as microbreweries and other alcoholic beverage producers) to pay the fee. Under its current law, New York wineries and vineyards can obtain a permit that allows them to offer tastings and sell bottles of wine at festivals, but wineries and vineyards cannot sell wine by the glass or for consumption.
In rejecting the food festival bill, Paterson emphasized his desire to support the sale of wine at local grocery stores throughout the state, believing this modification could bring the state $300 million annually in licensing fees, as well as raise state tax revenue. Last month, State legislatures rejected Paterson’s proposal to sell wine in grocery and other food stores. Legislatures, however, are still eager to edit the food festival bill to meet the demands of the Governor.
About the author
Lindsey Zahn wrote 151 articles on this blog.
Lindsey is the founder and author of On Reserve: A Wine Law Blog. She is a recent law school graduate and has a passion for the hospitality industry that furnishes her interest in wine law. Currently, she works at an alcohol beverage and food law firm in Washington, D.C. Lindsey passed the July 2012 New York State Bar Exam and is currently awaiting admission to the New York Bar (pending results from her character and fitness exam).
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New York,
state legislation
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