Attention All Retailers: Thank You for Attending the 2025 Lobby Day! 

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Empire State Plaza, Meeting Room 7 

9:30 AM: Briefing & Review of Materials and Talking Points
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Meetings with NYS Senators and Assemblymembers in Albany

There are several pieces of legislation actively under consideration now that will significantly impact on your store and your livelihood, including:

  • Allowing large grocery chains to sell wine
  • A NEW BILL permitting beer retailers and wholesalers to sell Ready-to-Drink (RTD) spirits-based cocktails
  • Granting multiple licenses to retailers
  • Expanding bottle deposit laws to include wine and liquor bottles

Why Attend?
Liquor stores specialize in selling two products: wine and spirits. Now, grocery stores are attempting to take wine from us, while beer retailers and wholesalers are targeting spirits-based RTDs. These efforts are gradually eroding our share of the liquor industry market. We must stand up against these proposals that will destroy our businesses if they are enacted.

Grocery stores are actively campaigning through online and in-store efforts to push for the passage of Wine in Grocery Store (WIGS) legislation before the legislative session ends in early June. Their organized efforts, including e-advocacy tools and QR codes, aim to generate thousands of letters to lawmakers from customers in their collective stores. If WIGS legislation passes, our independent liquor stores will face insurmountable competition from 30,000 grocery stores. Liquor stores anchored by grocery stores will be the first to suffer.

Beer retailers and wholesalers have a bill introduced that would allow them to sell spirits-based RTDs, claiming that this expansion will drive market growth and cater to consumer demand. However, these products are already widely available in liquor stores, more than sufficiently meeting consumer needs. Allowing beer retailers to sell canned spirits introduces a different risk profile compared to beer, significantly increasing access to hard alcohol. This raises concerns about the safe sale and responsible consumption of these products, which are best suited for liquor stores where spirits are traditionally sold and regulated.

Proposals to allow multiple licenses and expand the scope of the bottle law are also actively in play. If we don’t speak up, these proposals could become law.

YOUR FUTURE Depends on Legislative Decisions.

Your participation is crucial to ensure legislators understand the negative effects these proposals have on the survival of independent liquor stores, the people we employ, our communities, and our partners in the liquor industry. This is your opportunity to advocate for the future of your businesses. These face-to-face meetings with lawmakers are critical to influencing legislative outcomes in our favor.  

Attendance is Free! But You Must Register for Lobby Day.

Secure your spot today by registering through this link: https://www.jotform.com/build/250297496760064

RSVP by Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Together, we WILL make a difference!