What you need to know about dining out and drinking in New York State

What you need to know about dining out and drinking in New York State

MORE TONIGHT FROM7-EWN REPORTERJEDDY JOHNSONWHEN GOVERNORANDREW CUOMOANNOUNCED THATBARS ANDRESTAURANTS COULDONLY SELL ALCOHOLTO CUSTOMERS WHOORDER FOOD, LIQUORLICENSE HOLDERSGOT CREATIVERUSHING TO COME UPWITH $1 MENUS TO FITTHE BILL.CUOMO: "FIRST OF ALL.HOW DID I GETASSOCIATED WITHCHIPS..

I DON'T KNOW."BUT THE NEW YORKSTATE LIQUORAUTHORITY SAYSTHOSE $1 DOLLARCUOMO CHIPS AREN'TCUTTING IT.CUOMO: "THEY DONOT SUFFICE IN THEEXISTING LAW AS ABAR SERVING FOOD."ACCORDING TO BOBHEIL, A LIQUORLICENSESCONSULTANT ANDPRESIDENT OF SLASOLUTION, THE TYPESOF FOODS THAT CANBE ORDER WITHDRINKS ARE THINGSLIKE WINGS, HOTDOGS, SOUPS ANDSALADS,BOB: "SO CHIPS ANDCHIPS AND SALSA ANDPEANUTS ANDPOPCORN ARE JUSTCONSIDERED SNACKSTHEY ARE ARE NOTCONSIDEREDSUBSTANTIAL FOOD."WHEN CUSTOMERSGO TO ORDER THEIRFIRST DRINK, THEYMUST ALSO BEORDERING FOOD ATTHE SAME TIME.BOB: "AND YOU CANUSE SHARE PLATES,BUT IT HAS TO BE ASHARED PORTION OFFOOD."AFTER THE INITIALPURCHASE,CUSTOMERS CANORDER AS MANYDRINKS AS THEYWANT.BOB; "SO YOUCONTINUE TO STAY ASLONG AS YOUR SOCIALDISTANCING ANDREMAIN CONSUMINGBEVERAGES."GOVERNOR ANDREWCUOMO SAYSRESTAURANTS ANDBARS SHOULD HAVENO ISSUES WITHSELLING FOODBECAUSE IT'SALREADY A REQUIREDPART OF THEIRLICENSE.CUOMO: "ANY BAR, BYOUR CURRENT LAW,ANY BAR HAD TO HAVEFOOD AVAILABLE.SOUPS, SALADS, ETC.THERE IS NO BAR THATONLY SERVESALCOHOL."BOB: "REALLY WHATTHIS IS IS JUST ANENFORCEMENT OF ARULE THAT'S BEEN ONTHE BOOKS FORQUITE SOME TIME,THAT FOOD HAS TO BEAVAILABLE.

NOWTHEY'RE SAYING YOUHAVE TO PROVIDE ITTHAT'S THEDIFFERENT.THIS REQUIREMENTBECAME EFFECTIVE INNEW YORK STATE ONJULY 17, AND HEILEXPECTS IT TOREMAIN IN AFFECTFOR MONTHS TOCOME.

IN BUFFALO JJ,7EWN.