What's happening
This bill allows liquor retailers in New York to buy alcohol using business credit or debit cards.
Why it matters
Liquor store owners and bars across New York State—especially small businesses—would gain access to modern payment options, potentially improving cash flow and making inventory purchasing more flexible, though they would be responsible for any credit/debit card transaction fees.
Manufacturers and wholesalers are not compelled to accept business payment cards, but if they do, they must offer this option equally to all retail licensees, which could standardize payment practices and reduce potential favoritism or discrimination among retailers.
The bill includes clear definitions and transparency requirements (e.g., separating product price from card-related fees on invoices), aiming to prevent hidden costs and to ensure that the new payment method doesn’t create unfair advantages or backdoor incentives in the alcohol distribution chain.
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Who cares
Retail Licensees (Bars, Restaurants, Liquor Stores, etc.)
Care because the bill allows them to use business credit or debit cards to purchase alcohol, offering more flexibility in payment methods and potentially streamlining cash flow and record-keeping.
Alcohol Manufacturers and Wholesalers
Care because they can now accept business payment cards from retail licensees, potentially increasing sales opportunities, but must also manage new compliance requirements and administrative tasks related to card payments and surcharges.
Business Payment Card Issuers (Banks, Credit Card Companies)
Care because the bill could increase usage of their products in the alcohol distribution chain, leading to more transaction volume and associated fees.
- Watching
Regulatory Agencies (e.g., NYS Liquor Authority)
Care because they will need to oversee proper implementation, monitor compliance, and possibly update regulations to accommodate the new payment options and ensure fair practices.
Headline styles
Allow Card Payment for Alcohol
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to economic development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1085
- Referred to investigations and government operations
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.
Allow Business Cards for Alcohol
In Assembly Committee · Economic Development · Sponsor Tony Simone
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9979
IN SENATE
April 20, 2026
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to authorizing retail licensees to purchase alcohol with a business payment card
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 101-aa of the alcoholic beverage control law is amended by adding three new paragraphs g, h and i to read as follows:
g. "Business payment card" means: (1) any credit card issued to a retail licensee for business or commercial use pursuant to an agreement that allows the holder thereof to obtain goods and services on the credit of the issuer or a debit card that provides access to a bank account of a retail licensee; (2) a credit or debit card from an issuer accepted by the manufacturer or wholesaler as permitted by the authority in regulation; and (3) such credit card shall not include cards in which a manufacturer or wholesaler has a financial interest or cards by which their use benefits a manufacturer or wholesaler. Such card must be issued in the same name as a retail licensee and registered to the same address as the address on the retail license, or as otherwise permitted by the authority in regulation.
h. "Final cash invoice amount" means the amount charged by a manufacturer or wholesaler to a retail licensee pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision two of this section.
i. "Final business payment card invoice amount" means the amount charged by a manufacturer or wholesaler to a retail licensee pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section; and shall equal the final cash invoice amount plus the exact surcharges and fees that are charged to the manufacturer or wholesaler by the business payment card issuer, or a person or entity associated with the issuer.
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 101-aa of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by section 5 of subpart W of part XX of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15611-01-6
chapter 55 of the laws of 2020, is amended and a new paragraph (c) is added to read as follows:
(b) on terms requiring payment by such retail licensee for such alcoholic beverages on or before the final payment date of the credit period for which delivery is made[.]; or
(c) by business payment card; provided that a manufacturer or wholesaler that exercises reasonable diligence to ensure the sale comports with the requirements of this section shall not be found to have violated this subdivision where a retail licensee uses a credit card other than a business payment card.
§ 3. Section 101-aa of the alcoholic beverage control law is amended by adding three new subdivisions 2-a, 2-b and 2-c to read as follows:
2-a. A manufacturer or wholesaler that accepts business payment cards shall clearly state the final cash invoice amount and the final business payment card invoice amount on an invoice provided to a retail licensee. Nothing in this section shall preclude, or permit a manufacturer or wholesaler to prevent, a retail licensee that receives such an invoice from electing to use any other form of payment method permitted pursuant to subdivision two of this section following receipt of such invoice.
2-b. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to require any manufacturer or wholesaler to accept business payment cards as a method of payment by any retail licensee, provided that if such payment method is made available it shall be available on equal terms to all retail licensees.
2-c. Where payment is made by a business payment card pursuant to this section, the retail licensee shall bear the cost of the transaction, so as to mitigate the value of secondary benefits realized by the retailer licensee using the business payment card.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to authorizing retail licensees to purchase alcohol with a business payment card
Purpose
To expand the payment options available to retail licensees of spirits to pay manufacturers and wholesalers to include business payment cards.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 101-aa of the alcoholic beverage control law to add the definitions of "business payment card", "final cash invoice amount", and "final business payment card invoice amount".
Section two amends section 101-aa to provide retail licensees the addi- tional payment option of a business payment card in transactions with manufacturers and wholesalers of spirits. This section additionally provides that manufacturers and wholesalers that exercise reasonable diligence in ensuring the sale comports with the law shall not be found to have violated the subdivision where a retail licensee uses a credit card other than a business payment card.
Section three amends section 101-aa to provide that a manufacturer or wholesaler that accepts business payment cards shall clearly state the final cash invoice amount and the final business payment card invoice amount on an invoice provided to the retail licensee, and clarifies that the retail licensee shall bear the costs associated with this statute.
Section four provides the effective date.
Justification
This bill will amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control law allowing retail alcohol licensees to purchase liquor and bottled wine from wholesalers and manufacturers using business credit or debit cards. Wholesalers must clearly show both cash and card prices on invoices and are not required to accept card payments. If wholesalers choose to accept credit card payments, any credit card processing fees will be paid by the purchaser.
In 2019, NY took the first step to modernize business to business alco- hol payments by allowing beer, cider and wine products to be purchased using a business credit or debit card. Despite a successful implementa- tion of the first phase of alcohol sales modernization over the last 7 years; the global economy has outpaced the U.S. in payments technology.
Given the successful first phase of updating regulations for the busi- ness to business sale of beer, cider and wine products for restaurants, local cafes and third spaces, we believe New York should move to the second phase and update the regulations to provide restaurants with parity. Whether they're buying beer or wine, restaurants, performance venues and other licensed retailers should be able to use their preferred method of payment, including a business credit or debit card.
Now more than ever, businesses are inundated with economic uncertainty, tariffs and unnecessary red tape. Limiting a restaurateur's ability to purchase wine with a preferred credit card can result in serious finan- cial burdens. By removing unnecessary restrictions on credit cards New York will help its businesses navigate through an unprecedented economy.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.