A bill that looks to further update the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law would allow distilleries to sell beer, wine, and cider by the glass, to further cross-promotion of local craft beverages.

State Senator George Amedore, a Republican from Rotterdam, and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, a Democrat from Albany, introduced the bill, having teamed up before, introducing a similar bill in 2015 to allow farm cideries to sell beer, wine, and spirits. That same year, a bill was introduced by Senator Patty Ritchie, a Republican, and Assemblyman William Magee, a Democrat, to allow breweries to do the same. Both bills were signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo in September 2016.

“It was just a slight oversight that needed to be tweaked,” said Amedore’s Director of Communication, Eileen Miller, of the new bill, which is currently in Senate committee. “It’s really to update the laws,” she later added.

Before the 2016 law, cideries could sell beer, wine, and spirits by the bottle but not by the glass; they would have needed separate licenses for each category of beverage. If the new bill becomes law, distilleries will be able to do the same.

In 2015, Fahy and Amedore collaborated on a bill to allow distilleries to sell gift items.

“It’s a parity bill,” said Fahy, explaining how the update to the Alcoholic Beverage Control law would be very similar to prior legislation.

“We’re dealing with a very old liquor law,” she added.

Dietrich Gehring, co-owner of Indian Ladder Farmstead Cidery and Brewery, said he was grateful Fahy and Amedore were working across the aisle on the bill.

“For us, the legislation in place is in our favor,” he said.

Gehring said his business currently sells several locally made spirits, but it would be beneficial if local distilleries could do the same for their beer or cider.

Fahy said that the craft beverage industry has seen tremendous growth over the past several years; and that, because of a bill stating a majority of products in a craft beverage must be made in the state, the growth has helped not only local businesses but local agriculture as well. New York cider must be made with New York apples.

“It’s also helping upstate farmers,” said Fahy. “This is not just for small businesses.”

According to state data, there were 77 farm distilleries, 312 farm wineries, 92 farm breweries, and 16 farm cideries in New York as of August 2015. This past December, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said the craft beverage industry was a $3.5 billion industry.

Fahy said that a decision on the bill is not likely to be made right away, as it has just been introduced in the Senate.

“A lot of focus this time of year is on the budget,” she said, adding that bills like this “are never easy” to get through.

Miller was more confident, noting bills similar to this one have been signed into law.

In his budget address, Governor Andrew Cuomo brought forth a proposal to sell alcohol in movie theaters, saying it could be used to incentivize theaters to sell local wine and beer. Miller said that this proposal is very much separate from Amedore’s bill.

Fahy agreed that there was no direct connection, but added that it could help promote the bill, or at least promote local craft beverages. She envisioned that a locally owned movie theater could serve locally made beverages.

“It’s a win-win for local economy and the agricultural industry,” she said.

Gehring agreed.

“I think people would enjoy having a cider with a movie,” he said.