Convenience Stores Drop Support of WIGS!
Click here to read today's Times Union Story
NYSLSA's Marc Ressler featured on Buffalo's YNN Regarding WIGS
Click here to view
NYSLSA Speaks Out Against Wine in Grocery Stores!
Click hereto listen to NYSLSA member, Tom Edwards, speak out against WIGS with WGY's Read Shepherd.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Wendi Leggitt
(212) 681-1380 or (301) 247-0528
PATERSON’S NEW WINE IN GROCERIES PLAN CUTS REVENUE TO NEAR ZERO
Medallion Plan Would Generate Little, if Any, Revenue for State Budget
NEW YORK, NY April 21, 2010 – Governor Paterson’s latest plan to support his job-killing proposal to legalize wine sales in 19,000 new outlets would generate little revenue for the State this year, and would never come anywhere close to the $300 million the Governor projected in his Executive Budget, according to leaders of the Last Store on Main Street Coalition.
The Governor on Monday radically altered his wine in grocery plan to delay implementation for three years, while gutting the ability of the state to generate revenue from the bad idea. While this move merely delays the harsh economic impacts for Mom-and-Pop stores around the state, it would not generate any meaningful revenue for the state in the current fiscal year – a central argument used by proponents to sell this terrible proposal.
“Governor Paterson cynically tried to sell this dangerous plan as a way of generating revenue for teachers and hospitals – a fantasy from the start – but has now conceded that there simply is no money in this deal for the State budget this year,” said Jeff Saunders, head of the Retailers Alliance and founder of the Last Store Coalition. “We have always believed his revenue projections were fiction, so we are pleased he now recognizes that no one is buying his numbers. With little money for the State this year, there is simply no argument for supporting a plan that would ultimately put thousands of people out of work and increase underage drinking.”
Paterson’s latest proposal – the third change to his plan in just three months – would limit the number of new state licenses to sell wine to 2,742 for the next three years by giving wine store owners the ability to sell a “medallion” to grocery stores. However, the proposal is deeply flawed because:
Click here for the full press release
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ABL Applauds Enactment of PACT Act
New law will help combat illegal tobacco sales
Bethesda, MD – April 16, 2010 – American Beverage Licensees (ABL) today praised the enactment of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act of 2009, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 3, 2010. Thanks to this new law, hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax revenues will no longer be lost to illegal, online cigarette sales and tobacco trafficking. It will also provide authorities with a new tool for preventing underage access to tobacco products.
ABL and every single one of its 34 state and regional affiliates joined with the Coalition to Stop Contraband Tobacco in support of the PACT Act (S. 1147), as a means of closing loopholes in current federal laws and combating illegal sales of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
“From the passage of the bill in Senate and the House, to the President’s signature, ABL and its members are gratified in knowing that they played a role in this important step in fighting youth access to tobacco and contraband tobacco sales,” said ABL executive director Harry Wiles.
“In addition to beverage alcohol, many ABL members legally and responsibly sell tobacco products. This new law will assist them in making sure that only legal tobacco products reach the hands of adult customers.”
Contraband tobacco includes trafficking in smuggled cigarettes, counterfeit cigarettes, illegally imported cigarettes, and stolen cigarettes.
According to an article in the July 20, 2009 Wall Street Journal, “Studies indicate states are losing about $5 billion annually in tax revenue because of illegal tobacco sales, said Phil Awe, who heads the tobacco-diversion division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.”
The PACT Act received overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, with a diverse coalition of more than 180 groups working to secure the support of members of Congress. To learn more, visit www.coalitiontostopcontrabandtobacco.com.
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About American Beverage Licensees (ABL)
American Beverage Licensees (ABL) is the preeminent national trade association for alcohol beverage retailers. Its members are comprised of on-premise and off-premise licensees who provide hundreds of thousands of jobs and annually infuse billions of dollars into the American economy. To learn more about ABL, visit www.ablusa.org.
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The New York State Environmental Prevention Task Force (NYSEPTF) Challenges the Wisdom of the New York State United Teachers Position on Wine in Grocery Stores.
Contacts: Judi Vining, Co-Chair Joyce N. Davis, Co-Chair
(Phone) 516-897-1250 (Phone) 518-686-022
(Cell) 516-353-2061 jnadine@roadrunner.com
jvining@lbmc.org
Hoosick Falls, NY, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 -- The proposed expansion of wine sales in grocery stores would mean a huge jump in alcohol availability in New York State, and that would lead to more underage drinking (as well as a host of other alcohol related health problems and crime). Furthermore, the consequences of underage drinking include academic failure and dropout.
This makes the recent endorsement of this expansion by the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) all the more disturbing. NYSEPFT Co-Chair Joyce N. Davis remarked “This really flies in the face of their stated mission ‘to improve the quality of education and healthcare for the people of New York.’” It is a sad day for New York when teachers’ unions think that, in order to maintain funding for education, they need to back a proposal that will increase alcohol use, even among high schoolers. The Governor’s proposal may look like a revenue generator, but it will instead generate huge social costs, including alcohol-related traffic fatalities, for all New Yorkers for years to come. NYSEPFT Co-Chair Judi Vining added “Had the NYSUT leadership done their homework and contacted those of us with expertise in alcohol prevention, perhaps they would have made the right decision for the kids and adults of New York State.”
About the New York State Environmental Prevention Task Force (NYSEPTF)
The NYSEPTF, established in 2006, facilitates communication among community coalitions across New York State dedicated to reducing underage alcohol and other drug use. The Task Force meets monthly in person and via conference call for those not able to be present. The passage of social host legislation has been a priority for the group, as well as other policy issues related to the environmental prevention of underage alcohol and other drug use.
The Co-Chairs of the NYSEPTF, Joyce N. Davis and Judi Vining, are available for interviews about the negative consequences of expanding wine sales in New York State.
3/2010
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wendi Leggitt
(212) 681-1380 or (301) 247-0528
COALITION CALLS ON GOVERNOR TO JUSTIFY
FANTASY REVENUE PROJECTIONS
Seeks Documentation that Supports Paterson’s Claims
NEW YORK, NY February 10, 2010 – In a Freedom of Information Act request, leaders of the Last Store on Main Street Coalition today called on Governor Paterson to release all economic and fiscal studies to justify the fantasy revenues he projects from his job-killing plan to legalize wine sales in 19,000 new outlets.
The letter from Retailers Alliance President Jeff Saunders, New York State Liquor Store Association President Stefan Kalogridis and Metropolitan Package Store Association President Michael Correra states:
“As someone who claims on every occasion possible to be a fiscally responsible leader, we trust that your decision to dramatically increase the projected revenue from legalizing the sale of wine in 19,000 new outlets is based on hard data and not just a number penciled in by Big Box Store lobbyists.
“If in fact you have no documentation to support this increase, please let us know that as well. Sadly, we will not be surprised. We believe your numbers are pure fantasy that will never be realized. That will leave a massive hole in the 2011-12 budget for the next governor to address, while leaving a legacy of closed stores and families out of work.
“Governor, you talk often about your ability to bring fiscal discipline to the state and your ability to close deficits. Now we ask you to show us the studies you have done that justify this proposal and the fantasy revenues you project. As you know, talk is cheap. But the cost of this bad idea on small businesses and the jobs they provide is anything but cheap. It is dramatic, even tragic.”
The FOIA request seeks all documents to justify the dramatic increase in revenues from this bad idea included in the 21-day amendments, documentation to back up claims that allowing wine stores to sell potato chips will offset massive revenue losses as a result of this proposal, all documentation assessing the losses in revenue stemming from store closings and job losses, and all documentation assessing the impact on underage drinking costs that now exceed $3.2 billion annually for New York State.
The full letter is available here.
2/2010
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: January 19th, 2010
Contact: Heather Beaudoin
(212) 558-2251
MEDIA STATEMENT
TEAMSTERS JOINT COUNCIL 16 CALL ON ALBANY TO WITHDRAW PLAN
TO LEGALIZE WINE IN 19,000 NEW OUTLETS
Plan Would Result in the Loss of Hundreds of Union Jobs
Governor Paterson’s plan to legalize wine in 19,000 new outlets will result in the loss of hundreds of good paying, union jobs in a troubled economy. The Teamsters Joint Council 16 represents 125,000 workers, some of whom deliver wine and liquor to bars, restaurants, and wine and liquor stores across the State. Our hard-working members will suffer as grocery stores take over the industry and use their own employees, often non-union and under-compensated, to deliver its liquor. These are middle class jobs, averaging $70,000 a year with over $20,000 a year in benefits. “This proposal unfairly targets these middle-class workers and New York's small businesses, which will be unable to compete,” said Teamsters President George Miranda. “The State Legislature did the right thing last year when they rejected this proposal. Once again, we’ll fight for the interests of our members, their families, and all New Yorkers by protecting this industry’s status as one of New York’s few remaining bridges to the middle class.”
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1/19/2010
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MEDIA STATEMENT
Scott Romond, Sales Manager of Osprey’s Dominion,
on Paterson Plan to Legalize Wine Sales
in New York Supermarkets
We here at Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards, Ltd. (family owned and operated) are against the plan to expand the sale of wine in any retail outlet other than retail wine and liquor stores. We feel that these retail establishments will not support New York farm wineries who neither have the sales staff, product or distribution ability to reach these outlets.
There are many reasons why we are opposed to opening the sales ability to anywhere that beer can be sold. The primary reason is that this will be bad business for New York State wineries who have been making positive inroads in the wine industry with high quality products to non-corporate, Main Street American businesses.
Scott Romond is the Sales Manager of Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards in Peconic, NY.
1/19/2010
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MEDIA STATEMENT
Tom Morgan, Sales Manager of The Lenz Winery,
on Paterson Plan to Legalize Wine Sales
in New York Supermarkets
Governor Paterson’s proposal to legalize the sale of wine in 19,000 new outlets is bad business for New York’s wineries. It will mean the proliferation of cheap, discount wines from California, Australia, Chile, Argentina etc. that would compete unfairly with our home grown product and threaten the economic viability of more than 1,000 wine stores that can’t compete for quantity discounts available to supermarket chains. They are already struggling to survive in the current recession under existing license restrictions. New York wines are making significant inroads among New Yorkers in part because our partners in the retail stores have the knowledge, and take to time, to sell our products. We need to work together to find ways to increase the demand for New York wines, not threaten a partnership that has existed for so long and continues to grow stronger.
I have been in the wine industry since 1974 and with the Lenz Winery for 24 years and I don't think that this ‘quick fix’ to the state’s financial difficulties is the solution.
Tom Morgan is the Sales Manager of The Lenz Winery in Peconic, L.I., N.Y.
1/19/2010
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RWDSU Opposes Plan to LEGALIZE Wine in Grocery Stores
Statement from RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum
Governor Paterson’s ill-conceived plan to legalize wine in grocery stores will cost hundreds of good union jobs while allowing Big Box stores like Wal-Mart to squeeze out more corporate profits. The Governor’s own Law Review Commission on the State Liquor Authority recommended this idea be shelved until the economic impacts could be considered, yet the Governor chose to go ahead with this plan anyway. That makes no sense, especially in this very tough economy. The RWDSU is committed to defeating this job-killing plan, and will work with our brothers and sisters in the UFCW and the Teamsters to take our case to the Legislature.
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union represents 100,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
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Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, UFCW
30 E. 29th Street, New York, NY 10016 212-684-5300 fax 212-779-2809 www.rwdsu.org
1/19/2010
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U.F.C.W. LOCAL NO. 2-D
DISTILLERY, WINE & ALLIED WORKERS' DIVISION, U.F.C.W.
8402 18TH AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11214 • Tel.: (718) 331-0030• Fax (718) 331-2686
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: January 19th, 2010
MEDIA STATEMENT
UFCW PRESIDENT VINCENT FYFE SAYS PATERSON
BUDGET PROPOSAL PUTS HUNDREDS OF UNION JOBS AT RISK
Wine in Grocery Stores Benefits Big Box Stores, Kills Union Jobs
Governor Paterson has once again declared war on our union and the hundreds of workers who will lose their jobs with his reckless plan to legalize wine in grocery stores. This bad idea will force more than 1,000 stores to close across New York State - and that will mean the loss of hundreds of jobs for union members who sell and deliver to these stores. Fewer stores means fewer deliver jobs and fewer sales jobs for our union members, both upstate and in the New York City region, since Big Box stores have their own networks already. We urge the Legislature to once again reject this job-killing plan. We appreciate the strong support from our brothers and sisters at the RWDSU and the Teamsters, and call on all unions to join with us in opposition to this terrible idea.
1/19/2010
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Last Store On Main Street
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wendi Leggitt
(212) 681-1380 or (301) 247-0528
NEW RESTAURANT, SAME HYPOCRISY FROM WEGMANS
Greedy Grocer Gives New York Wines Second Class Treatment – Again
NEW YORK, NY January 15, 2010 – A review of the wine list at Wegmans’ new Rochester restaurant reveals that less than 5 percent of the choices of wines are from New York State – the latest evidence of the hypocrisy from Big Box stores that claim they will promote New York wines if wine sales in grocery stores are legalized.
The results are similar to Wegmans’ failed restaurant, Tastings, which also offered only a token selection of New York wines before closing its doors last year. Read More
1/15/2010
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NYS Law Revision Commission
Report on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and its Administration
Link to full report:
The subject of wine in grocery stores is not addressed within this report. The Commission believes that “before any action should be taken a complete and independent analysis of its economic consequences should be undertaken.” Read more
12/23/2009
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County Farm Bureau Contacts
By
Todd Vandervort
The Vandervort Group, LLC
The Niagara County Farm Bureau recently voted in support of our position on the sale of wine in grocery stores. We would like to get the support of additional County Farm Bureaus in an effort to sway the position of the New York Farm Bureau, and we need your help. If any liquor store owners have a relationship with any County Farm Bureaus, please send me an email at rsvp@vandervortgroup.com or call me at 518.463.3202. Any information you can share with me will be helpful.
Thank you for your continued support and assistance.
11/16/2009
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LAST STORE ON MAIN STREET LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN
TO PROMOTE NEW YORK WINES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
“Give a New York Wine this Holiday Season” Promotion
NEW YORK, NY November 16, 2009 –The Last Store on Main Street Coalition today announced a new promotion – “Give a New York Wine this Holiday Season” – to boost New York wines from every corner of the state during the busy holiday season. The goal is not just to increase sales, but to grow consumer demand for New York wines here at home.
“New York wines make a great holiday gift, and with the tremendous growth of the industry over the last decade, there are many great choices from every region of the state,” said Jeff Saunders, president of the Retailers Alliance and founder of the Last Store Coalition. “New York wines have improved dramatically over the last 15 years, and have earned the critical acclaim they have received. We are committed to ensuring New York wines get the recognition and respect they deserve.”
The Last Store on Main Street, a coalition of retailers, wholesalers and others from around the state, has been working to increase consumer appreciation of New York wines through various events and meetings in the state. Just this month, the Coalition sponsored more than 30 New York wineries at the popular Cook.Eat.Drink.Live. festival, bringing New York’s wines to thousands of New York City consumers.
“These are tough economic times for everyone, so the launch of this new promotion is one more way we can help our partners in the New York wineries weather the storm,” said Stefan Kalogridis, president of the New York State Liquor Store Association. “If you are looking to ‘Buy Local,’ then giving a New York wine is a perfect choice this season.” READ MORE
11/16/2009
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August 6, 2009 at 12:33 pm by James M. Odato
Dennis Rosen was confirmed as State Liquor Authority chairman today and senators emphasized that he has his hands full to capacity.
Indeed, during his examination by the Finance Committee, Sen. George Maziarz recommended abolishing the agency.
“There is no one agency that has caused more pain or caused more loss of jobs than the State Liquor Authority,” said Maziarz, R-Niagara County.
Rosen has been an assistant attorney general in the Buffalo office. He resides in Orchard Park. The job pays $120,800.
He replaces Dan Boyle, whose term expired.
8/13/2009
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MEMO IN OPPOSITION
Wine in Grocery Stores – No Compromise
The Last Store on Main Street Coalition, which represents thousands of wine and liquor store owners from every community in New York State, is firmly opposed to Assemblyman Morelle's legislation that would legalize the sale of wine in grocery stores. READ MORE
7/30/2009
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LEGISLATIVE BILLS
as of May 28, 2009
by Todd Vandervort
Read about pieces of legislation that were introduced regarding your industry. These brief descriptions state NYSLSA's position supporting or opposing the bill. READ MORE
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NFIB/NY Stood With Liquor Store Owners to Defeat Wine in Grocery Stores
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), New York’s leading small business advocacy association, fought alongside liquor store owners in the successful effort to stop Governor David Paterson’s job-killing proposal to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores.
By a more than two-to-one margin, 67% of NFIB/NY members opposed this measure.
NFIB members, including but not limited to liquor store owners, cited concerns that this measure would unfairly disadvantage liquor stores--small businesses--by the changing the rules midstream under which they had formed their business, potentially forcing many, unable to compete with larger retailers, to close their doors.
To learn more about NFIB, visit www.nfib.com/ny. To join NFIB and make your voice heard in both Albany and Washington, visit www.nfib.com/join.
6/3/2009
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State Spending Cap
By Mike Elmendorf
New York State Director
National Federation of Independent Business
Governor David Paterson’s proposal to enact a state spending cap limiting state spending increases to the average rate of inflation of the prior three years is welcome news to New York’s beleaguered taxpayers and small business owners.
New Yorkers bear the nation’s worst tax burden, and we are saddled with the second-highest cost of doing business in the country, outpaced by only Hawaii. It’s no mystery why. Our government has been spending at an unsustainable rate that neither it nor New York’s taxpayers can afford. Over the past several years, state spending has increased at several times the rate of inflation. Nowhere were the results of this unchecked spending more obvious than in this year’s budget, where New Yorkers were subjected to the largest tax increase in state history as we stare down staggering out-year deficits of tens of billions of dollars.
In our most recent Member Ballot, NFIB/New York members overwhelmingly supported a state spending cap, with 86 percent of them backing such a measure. Putting real and substantive limits on state spending is the first step toward fundamentally reducing New York’s crushing tax burden, which must happen to restore our economic competitiveness.
We applaud Gov. Paterson’s leadership in advancing this common-sense reform that will force fiscal discipline on Albany, and look forward to working with him to make it law.
6/3/2009
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Espada / Castro Legislation
Not in Our Best Interest
By Todd Vandervort
Senator Pedro Espada and Assemblyman Nelson Castro introduced S.2994 / A.7206 to permit liquor retailers to register three liquor stores under one license, and to sell certain food items, such as peanuts, cheese, crackers, olives and other snacks, condiments and food items associated with the consumption of wine and other alcoholic beverages. According to the bill sponsors, this legislation would provide for increased sales tax revenues for the State and for local governments and allow small businesses and entrepreneurs the ability to provide jobs to local residents and fuel local economies. Read More
6/3/2009
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New Chair of the State Liquor Authority
Governor David A. Paterson today announced he has nominated Dennis Rosen as a Member and Chair of the State Liquor Authority (SLA). Once confirmed, Mr. Rosen will replace Daniel Boyle, who is currently serving as Chair.
Read More
5/13/2009
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FLOOR TAX DETAILS - Updated - 4/23/2009
The floor tax on wine DOES include champagne, sherry, and port.
Click Here to read the section of the ABC law that includes this floor tax.
Floor Tax Calculations
Go to the "Member Resources" section to view and print a copy of the floor tax chart. The calculations are give based on cases of various bottle sizes as well as individual bottles.
Tax Department Issues TSB-M
On the Excise Tax and the Floor Tax
By Todd Vandervort
The NYS Department of Tax and Finance issued TSB-M-09(3)M today relating to the excise tax and the floor tax on beer and wine. As you know, this year’s budget increases the excise tax on wine to 30 cents per gallon, and imposes a one-time floor tax effective May 1, 2009. Although the floor tax that was passed in the budget called for 32.07 cents per gallon on all inventory, the TSB-M has administratively adjusted the rate to .1107 cents per gallon to properly reflect the excise tax increase of 11 cents per gallon.
The floor tax will be based on inventory
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