Bottoms up for holiday liquor sales rule? Schenectady County set to ask state to ditch old law limiting sales hours By Lauren Stanforth Updated 10:34 p.m., Monday, March 5, 2012
SCHENECTADY — Schenectady County wants the state to overturn an arcane law that forbids liquor stores in the county from being open until 9 p.m. on holidays like Independence and Memorial days.
The county is one of only a handful of New York counties left that place hourly restrictions on sales during major holidays. Currently, stores that sell wine and liquor have to close at noon.
Rensselaer County also has restrictions, but Albany, Saratoga, Montgomery and Schoharie counties previously convinced the state to lift their shorter holiday rules.
"There are two or three liquor stores that have asked for the change," said county Legislator Michael Petta, who is co-sponsoring the legislation. "They feel they're at a competitive disadvantage with stores in other counties."
In 1934, the state Liquor Authority allowed communities to make their own decisions about liquor sales, includes days and hours of store operation. Some municipalities in the state are still "dry," meaning they don't allow liquor to be sold at all.
William Crowley, spokesman for the Liquor Authority, said the authority's board must hold a public hearing on the hour change after the municipal body approves the legislation. But he said baring any public outcry, the state would likely approve the new hours.......................>>>>....................>>>>....................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....13.php#ixzz1oKoEU339
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