What's happening
This bill allows certain not-for-profit motion picture theaters in Brooklyn to serve beer, wine, cider, and mead to patrons 21 and older, with proceeds funding community programs.
Why it matters
Targets a specific not-for-profit theater. The bill applies only to a motion picture theater located on a very precisely defined parcel in Brooklyn, meaning its impact is focused and not a broad change affecting all theaters or venues.
Requires community board approval. Before serving alcoholic beverages, the theater must secure written support from relevant local community boards, giving the neighborhood a direct say in whether this privilege is granted.
Imposes strict age restrictions. To prevent underage drinking, the bill mandates that only patrons 21 or older can be admitted to any movie screenings where alcohol is served, requiring robust enforcement policies.
Links alcohol sales to community benefit. All proceeds from beer, wine, cider, and mead sales must be used to fund or subsidize community-based benefit programs run by the theater, ensuring that alcohol service directly supports local initiatives rather than just increasing revenue.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Theaters Serve Alcohol
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by S726A
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.249
- Rules report cal.249
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to codes
- Print number 2698a
- Amend and recommit to economic development
- Referred to economic development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Theaters Serve Alcohol
Vetoed · Sponsor Velmanette Montgomery
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2698--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to authorizing the issuance of a license to certain motion picture theatres
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 64-a of the alcoholic beverage control law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
6-a. Notwithstanding subdivision six of this section, the authority may issue a license to serve beer, wine, cider and mead as provided for in section eighty-one-a and section one hundred six of this chapter, to a corporation organized pursuant to the not-for-profit corporation law operating a motion picture theatre on a part-time or full-time basis located on the premises of the following parcel. Provided, however, the authority shall require that (i) the following parcel secures written support, that is filed with the authority, for any such license from the relevant local community boards, (ii) each such license shall stipulate that while beer, wine, cider and mead are being given away, sold, or otherwise made available during the showing of any motion picture or film in any screening room of a motion picture theatre or film theatre located on the premises of the parcel, then every customer, patron, guest or member admitted to such motion picture or film theatre must be twenty-one years of age or older, and the process by which such policy shall be implemented and enforced, and (iii) all proceeds from the sale of beer, wine, cider and mead shall be used to fund or subsidize community-based benefit programs administered by the licensee.
BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of Lafayette Avenue with the Easterly side of Ashland Place;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03551-02-9
A. 2698--A 2
RUNNING THENCE Easterly along the Southerly side of Lafayette Avenue, one hundred and seventy-six (176) feet one (1) inch to the Westerly side of St. Felix Street,
THENCE Southerly along the Westerly side of St. Felix Street, two hundred and fifteen (215) feet;
THENCE Westerly parallel with Lafayette Avenue and part of the distance through a party wall, one hundred and eighty-five (185) feet one-half (1/2) of an inch to the Easterly side of Ashland Place;
THENCE Northerly along the Easterly side of Ashland Place, two hundred and fifteen (215) feet two and one-quarter (2 1/4) inches to the corner, the point or place of BEGINNING.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.