Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB)

          BYOB, or “Bring Your Own Bottle,” where owners of establishments allow their customers to bring alcoholic beverages to their premises to be consumed on site, is NOT PERMITTED in unlicensed businesses in New York State. You MUST have a license or permit to sell/serve beer, wine, or liquor to the public. Venues without a license or permit may NOT allow patrons to “bring their own” alcoholic beverages for consumption. In addition, owners of unlicensed businesses may NOT give away alcoholic beverages to their patrons. Those that do are in violation of the NYS Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. They can have civil or criminal fines.

Applicants should be aware that allowing BYOB without a license may jeopardize their chances for approval of a license in the future. In one recent case, a restaurant that had a liquor license pending was caught by the State Liquor Authority Enforcement Bureau investigators permitting BYOB and his application was summarily denied. The Authority felt the business owner did not show evidence that he respected the laws and would operate legally, compliant business. A request for reconsideration took several months to be scheduled for a full board hearing, causing financial distress to the business unable to serve alcohol for months.

Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB)

          BYOB, or “Bring Your Own Bottle,” where owners of establishments allow their customers to bring alcoholic beverages to their premises to be consumed on site, is NOT PERMITTED in unlicensed businesses in New York State. You MUST have a license or permit to sell/serve beer, wine, or liquor to the public. Venues without a license or permit may NOT allow patrons to “bring their own” alcoholic beverages for consumption. In addition, owners of unlicensed businesses may NOT give away alcoholic beverages to their patrons. Those that do are in violation of the NYS Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. They can have civil or criminal fines.

Applicants should be aware that allowing BYOB without a license may jeopardize their chances for approval of a license in the future. In one recent case, a restaurant that had a liquor license pending was caught by the State Liquor Authority Enforcement Bureau investigators permitting BYOB and his application was summarily denied. The Authority felt the business owner did not show evidence that he respected the laws and would operate legally, compliant business. A request for reconsideration took several months to be scheduled for a full board hearing, causing financial distress to the business unable to serve alcohol for months.