Let NY’s Small Towns Choose Whether to Sell Booze

New York State Senator, James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley), has proposed a bill that aims to eliminate the outdated bans on alcohol in a few small towns. His reasoning behind this is that selling alcohol will help boost the economies of these towns, suggesting it is for their own benefit.

However, the decision to allow alcohol sales should be left up to the towns themselves, without interference from Albany.

The bill would overturn a 1934 law that gave towns the choice to maintain prohibition after the national ban was lifted, and currently only seven towns, each with populations of 2,000 or less, still uphold total bans on alcohol sales.

Those inconvenienced by having to drive a bit further to purchase alcohol likely have chosen to live in other locations. This intervention is viewed as petty, arrogant, and intolerant, counteracting the desire of many to reside in small, close-knit communities to avoid such government interference.

It could be assumed that Skoufis, a loyal modern Democrat, sees this as a means of increasing tax revenue for the state as well.