New York Assembly Bill A11437

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

Caption

Relates to license fees required to be paid by wholesale beer licensees to sell cider

Summary

This bill amends the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to increase the additional fee a wholesale beer licensee must pay in order to be authorized to sell cider at wholesale. Under current law, a wholesale beer licensee may sell cider for an additional annual fee of $125; the bill raises that fee to $375. The bill also clarifies that the cider-selling authorization runs concurrently with the wholesale beer license term and continues to be subject to the same licensing provisions that apply to other wholesale licenses. In practical terms, the measure affects wholesale beer distributors that want to expand into cider sales, as well as cider producers and licensed beer, wine, and liquor retailers that purchase cider at wholesale. It does not change who may sell cider at wholesale, but it increases the cost of obtaining that privilege and aligns the cider authorization period with the underlying wholesale license. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Impact

The bill amends section 58-a of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law by increasing the supplemental license fee for wholesale beer licensees seeking authority to sell cider from $125 to $375 and by adding conforming language on license duration and applicability of existing licensing rules. This changes the financial and administrative terms under which wholesale beer licensees may participate in the cider market, but does not otherwise expand or restrict the class of eligible licensees or the categories of permitted purchasers.

Sentiment

Available context suggests the bill moved without recorded controversy: it was introduced by committee on rules at the request of a member of assembly and later passed the Senate, with no committee transcript excerpts or recorded votes provided showing opposition. The overall sentiment appears neutral to favorable, consistent with a technical licensing amendment rather than a major policy dispute.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the fee increase itself, since wholesale beer licensees would pay three times the current amount to obtain cider-selling authority. Any concern would likely come from distributors or industry stakeholders who view the higher fee as an added cost of doing business, while supporters may see it as a modest regulatory adjustment or revenue increase. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments are documented in the provided materials.