Assembly Passes Legislation to Allow Direct Shipment of New York State Produced Craft Liquor, Ciders and Mead

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo today announced that the Assembly has passed legislation to allow New York craft producers of liquor, cider, mead and braggot to ship their products directly to inter- and intrastate customers (A.3132-A, Lupardo). The legislation has now passed both the Assembly and the Senate this session.

“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. “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.”

“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,” Assemblymember Lupardo said. “New York’s award winning craft beverages, while very popular, are not available in most New York State liquor stores.”

This legislation, by allowing the inter- and intrastate direct to consumer sale of liquor, cider, mead and braggot, will open new markets to New York state alcohol producers. While wineries and some breweries in New York State are permitted to sell direct to consumers, 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. They now need this measure to continue growing.