Non-alcoholic beverages might soon be available in New York liquor stores

A pair of bills in the New York State Senate and Assembly propose allowing the sale of non-alcoholic versions of adult beverages in wine and liquor stores. Non-alcoholic beverages might soon be available in New York liquor stores as these bills coincide with a renewed effort by supermarkets in the state to gain the ability to sell wine, potentially leading to a trade-off.

“Increasing the products available in liquor stores makes sense only if it is part of a broader discussion that allows the grocery industry to also offer wine,” said Mike Durant, president and CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York. He emphasized that expanding liquor store offerings without modernizing New York’s alcohol laws to allow grocery stores to sell spirits is illogical.

The push for non-alcoholic beverages comes as alcohol-free alternatives gain popularity, with sales growing 35% in 2023, surpassing $565 million, according to NIQ.

This trend is expected to continue, with NIQ noting that 45% of Gen Z consumers of legal drinking age have never consumed alcohol. Many avoid alcohol for health reasons, while others opt for cannabis, which has become legalized and more widely available.

As a result of these trends, wine and liquor stores have experienced significant sales declines since the pandemic, according to The New York Post, which first reported on the new bills. The proposed legislation, introduced in state senate and assembly committees, aims to allow these stores to capitalize on the growing market for non-alcoholic beverages.

“It’s incredibly important to us to support our liquor stores,” N.Y. State Sen. Michelle Hinchley, who introduced the Senate version of the bill, told The Post.

New York is one of 17 states that currently prohibit wine and liquor stores from selling non-alcoholic versions of beer, wine, and spirits, The Post reported.

Conversely, New York is one of 12 states that do not allow grocery stores to sell wine. Bills permitting supermarkets to sell wine were introduced in the state legislature last year and again this year, despite strong opposition from wine and liquor stores.