Cuomo announces working group to review New York state’s alcohol laws

New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced the creation of a working group to review New York state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control laws.

The group’s main goal is to modernize the 80-year-old alcohol laws with a focus on removing outdated provisions, reducing mandatory paperwork and getting rid of restrictions on manufacturers, among other things, according to a release from Cuomo’s office.

“This working group will help continue these efforts providing both perspective and first-hand experience on how to bring out laws into the modern era and further aid in the growth of this great New York industry,” Cuomo said in the release.

The working group will include various members of the alcohol industry in New York state and will also have representatives from the State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Empire State Development Corporation and the Department of Taxation and Finance, according to the release.

The craft beer and wine industry is large in the state and has experienced high levels of growth since Cuomo took office in 2011, with the number of alcoholic beverage manufacturers doubling, according to the release.