New Container & Packaging Guidelines by New York State Liquor Authority

The Liquor Authority continues its policy that no bottle or other alcohol container may have a secondary value or after-use.  In other words, the container can’t be a decanter, candy jar or any other useful item once the alcohol is used up.

In the same manner, no wrapping material may have a secondary use.  Wrapping can be paper, canvas, cloth, leather, straw, plastic and other materials.  No baskets or boxes can be used to hold alcohol bottles because they inherently have a secondary use after the alcohol is consumed.

Wholesalers and distributors can supply liquor stores with paper or cardboard boxes to provide customers, but not baskets or boxes with any secondary use other than holding the bottle for sale.