Exempts certain property from the prohibition of alcohol sales within a certain distance of a place of worship

2025 Regular Session

A narrowly defined Manhattan property would be exempt from the usual two-hundred-foot ban, allowing on-premises alcohol sales near schools or places of worship if licensed accordin

PRINT NUMBER 11457B

Summary of Bill A 11457-B (2025-2026, New York)

Purpose and intent

This bill amends the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to create a limited exemption from the prohibition on alcohol sales within a specified distance of schools, churches, synagogues, or other places of worship.

Specifically, it allows certain premises to obtain a retail license for on-premises consumption even if located within two hundred feet of a school or place of worship, under narrowly defined conditions. The intent appears to be to permit on-premises alcohol sales for a food- or beverage-service establishment in a very specific Manhattan location.

Key provisions and changes

New statutory allowance added to Subdivision 7 of section 64 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (new paragraph (e-18)).

Conditions for exemption:

The retail license for on-premises consumption may be issued notwithstanding the usual prohibition within two hundred feet of a building occupied as a school, church, synagogue, or other place of worship.
The premises must be located wholly within the boundaries of Manhattan County (i.e., within New York County).
The premises must be a location for sale of food or beverages for retail consumption on the premises.

Geographic and property-specific description:

The exemption applies to a defined property described as a particular parcel in Manhattan, with an accompanying easement parcel for light and air rights. The description includes precise boundaries and legal references to the Hamilton Building Company and associated parcels between Greenwich Street, Thames Street, Trinity Place, and nearby structures.

Effective date:

The act states it shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

Who/what would be affected

Retail license applicants seeking on-premises consumption licenses (e.g., restaurants, bars, or similar establishments) located within two hundred feet of a school or place of worship in Manhattan.

Specifically, a narrowly defined site in lower Manhattan is named and described, meaning only establishments at or near that parcel could potentially qualify under this exemption.

The change relates to licensing authorities and processes under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, and may impact nearby schools or places of worship by altering the usual distance-based restriction for this particular site.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative history in this session:

Introduced in the Assembly by the Committee on Rules (at request of Assembly Member Fall).
Referred to the Committee on Economic Development; subsequently amended and reprinted, with recommittal to the committee multiple times.
Action history shows amendments and reprints on May 28 and May 29, 2026, with final re-commitments to Economic Development.

Effective date: immediate upon enactment (no separate transition period specified).

Practical implications and considerations

The bill creates a highly targeted exception rather than a broad policy change. It would enable a specific Manhattan property (with a precise legal description) to host on-premises alcohol sales within close proximity to a school or place of worship, which would normally be prohibited under current law.

Local dynamics, including the impact on nearby schools or religious facilities, as well as nearby residents and businesses, would depend on how the exemption is applied in licensing decisions and the specifics of the site’s operation.

If enacted, this could become a reference point for future similar narrowly tailored exemptions or for evaluating the balance between economic activity and community considerations in licensing decisions.