Changes to Retail Applications

Effective immediately, the New York State Liquor Authority has reduced the required information on residence and employment history in the Personal Questionnaire from 10 years to 5 years.  This is great news to practitioners like me who struggle to get complete biographical information from clients.  Despite this change to the application, the Deputy Commissioner has explained that all relevant restaurant and bar experience should be included, even if it is beyond the recent five years.  The Examiner and Licensing Board need to identify adverse history and potential bars to licensing as well as assess the qualification of managers and owners to operate a licensed establishment serving alcoholic beverages to the public.  Disclosure of prior industry involvement enables the Examiner to engage in appropriate due diligence to make informed determinations.